Jordan pulled off a stunning upset as it defeated South Korea 2-0 in the AFC Asian Cup semifinal on Tuesday, booking its place in the final for the first time in history.
Jordan scores twice in second half to seal victory
After a goalless first half, Jordan took the lead in the 53rd minute through Yazan Al-Naimat, who flicked a shot past goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo from a corner. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Jordanian players and fans, who sensed a historic opportunity.
South Korea, which had won the Asian Cup twice in 1956 and 1960, tried to respond, but found Jordan’s defense too resilient and organized. The Koreans also lacked the creativity and flair that had seen them score 12 goals in their previous five matches.
Jordan doubled its lead in the 66th minute, when Musa Al-Taamari unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box that flew into the top corner. The goal was Al-Taamari’s fourth of the tournament, making him the joint top scorer along with Qatar’s Almoez Ali.
South Korea had no answer to Jordan’s second goal, and looked deflated and frustrated as the clock ticked down. Jordan held on to its lead and celebrated a remarkable achievement at the final whistle.
Jordan defies the odds to reach the final
Jordan’s run to the final has been nothing short of miraculous, as it had entered the tournament as one of the lowest-ranked teams, at 107th in the world. It had also never gone past the quarterfinals before, and had finished below South Korea in Group E.
However, under Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta, Jordan has shown tremendous spirit, discipline, and determination, and has upset some of the favorites along the way. It had drawn 2-2 with South Korea in the group stage, thanks to a stoppage-time own goal, and had beaten Vietnam and Japan in the knockout rounds.
Ammouta said after the match that he had told his players not to respect South Korea more than they should, and that they had nothing to lose. He also praised his players for their heroic performance, and said they were the weapons that delivered the result.
South Korea fails to end Asian Cup drought
South Korea, on the other hand, will be bitterly disappointed with its exit, as it had hoped to end its 64-year wait for a third Asian Cup title. It had hired former Germany and USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann to lead the team, and had boasted some of the best players in Asia, such as Son Heung-min, Hwang Ui-jo, and Lee Jae-sung.
However, Klinsmann’s team failed to live up to the expectations, and struggled to find its rhythm and consistency throughout the tournament. It had needed late goals to beat Saudi Arabia and Australia in the previous rounds, and had looked vulnerable at the back.
Klinsmann took full responsibility for the team’s failure, and said that the goal was to get to the final, but they did not. He also congratulated Jordan, and said they deserved to be in the final.
Jordan to face Iran or Qatar in the final
Jordan will now face either Iran or Qatar in the final, which will be played on Saturday at the Khalifa International Stadium. Iran and Qatar will play their semifinal on Wednesday, and both teams have been impressive so far, scoring 15 and 16 goals respectively, and conceding none.
Jordan will hope to continue its fairy-tale run, and become the first team from West Asia to win the Asian Cup since Iraq in 2007. It will also aim to emulate the feat of Iraq and Saudi Arabia, who had also reached the final in their first appearance.
South Korea, meanwhile, will have to settle for the third-place playoff, which will be played on Friday at the Al Janoub Stadium. It will also have to reflect on what went wrong, and how to improve for the future.
