When Jordan and South Korea met earlier in the Asia Cup during the group stages, both sides were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw – but this time, a berth in the final awaited the winner.
South Korea had thus far managed to squeeze through against Saudi Arabia on penalties and Australia after extra time, and despite running on tired legs, would be the favourites to reach the next phase.
JOR: Abulaila, Nasib, Al Arab, Mousa Marie, Haddad, Al Rashdan, Al Rawabdeh, Abu Hasheesh, Sulaiman Al Tamari, Al Mardi, Al Naimat
KOR: Cho Hyun-woo, Kim Tae-hwan, Jung Seung-hyun, Kim Young-gwon, Seol, Lee Jae-sung, Park, Hwang In-beom, Lee Kang-in, Son Heung-min, Hwang Hee-chan
Nizar Al-Rashdan and Ehasan Haddad both took shots from the distance in the opening five minutes as if they were at a driving range, which forced Cho Hyun-Woo in goal to leap into action.
Moments later, Son thought he had netted after exquisitely dinking it over Yazeed Abdulaila in Jordan’s goal, but he turned around to see the flag raised for offside.
Embed from Getty ImagesAl-Tamari burst into action getting a shot away and the South Korean keeper met it but parried it into the danger area, luckily for him his defenders covered for him and cleared away.
Jordan thought they had given away a reckless penalty on the half-hour mark when Yazan Al-Arab crashed into Seol Young-Woo. However, upon further inspection, it was Seol who had sought the contact out and after the ref went to the monitor to take a look, it was ruled no penalty.
The closest either side came to scoring was when a cross came in from the right-hand side and Lee Jae-Sung’s header thudded directly against the post.
Yazan Al-Naimat gave South Korea warning signs when he wriggled through at least three players from the right wing and somehow managed to reach the six-yard box, only for Hyun-Woo to come out and smother the danger bringing the first half to a close.
Jordan came out to the second half without a moment to waste as Al-Naimat put Jordan in front after not heeding the earlier danger. Korea gave the ball away in their own half and Al-Tamari collected and slipped through Al-Naimat who mirrored Son’s earlier effort by chipping the keeper.
Embed from Getty ImagesTen minutes later, Al-Tamari was rewarded for setting up Al-Naimat’s goal as he got on the scoresheet. Jordan’s star man cut in from the right getting past a few Korean bodies before curling his effort into the bottom corner.
South Korea would have more of the ball till the end, but Jordan would manage to hold on and see the game out – reaching the historical feat of getting to their first-ever Asia Cup final. Jordan will now await either Qatar or Iran in their pursuit of glory.
