Jordan beats Syria to make Asian Cup quarterfinals

Jordan came back from a goal down to beat Syria 2-1 Monday to qualify for the Asian Cup quarterfinals and deny Syria its first trip to the knockout stage.

By (AP)

Published: Mon 17 Jan 2011, 10:27 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 7:12 PM

Striker Odai al-Saify scored the winning goal in the 59th minute, slipping past Syria defender Ali Dyab and chipping the ball over the shoulder of goalkeeper Mosab Balhous.

Syria, needing a win to progress, took the lead in the 15th minute when Mohamad al-Zino turned home the rebound after Jordan goalkeeper Amer Shafi saved a shot from Sanhabrib Malki. But Jordan equalized in the 30th when Dyab headed a cross into his own net.

Jordan finished second in Group B behind Japan and will play Group A winner Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals. It will be Jordan’s second appearance in the quarterfinals after losing to Japan on penalties at the same stage in 2004.

“The Syrians had some chances but we played well and were focused and full of discipline,” Jordan coach Adnan Hamad said.

Jordan, only needing a draw to advance, chose to sit back early as the Syrians pressed repeatedly. Syria had its first chance in the 11th minute when midfielder Jehad al-Hussien crossed to Sanharib Malki, but his header went wide.

Four minutes later, al-Zino scored off a rebound after Shafi saved a shot from Malki, giving the Syrians the lead.

Al-Zino could have scored another five minutes later when he was left unmarked in front of the net but he couldn’t handle a cross. The ball bounced off his shoulder and went wide of the goal.

The Jordanians then stepped up their game, launching several attacks on the Syrian goal. But Jordan still didn’t posed much of a threat until the 30th when a cross into the area was headed by Dyab into his own net.

Jordan had a chance to go into the lead four minutes later when midfielder Hasan Abdel Fattah took a cross in the area but mis-hit the ball wide.

“We really started well and scored a goal,” Syria coach Valeriu Tita said. “But then we gifted Jordan two goals. That is it.”

Lineups:

Jordan: Amer Shafi, Mohammad Monir, Suliman al-Salman, Baha’ Abdelrahman, Amer Deeb, Bashir Bani Yaseen, Odai Al Saify (Anas Hijah, 90), Abdallah Deeb (Moyad Abukeshek, 62), Shadi Abu Hashhash, Basem Fathi, Hasan Abdel Fattah (Ala al-Shaqran, 88).

Syria: Mosab Balhous, Belal Abduldaim (Qussai Habib, 79), Ali Dyab (Louay Chanko, 63), Feras Ismail, Jehad al-Hussien, Abdulrazak al-Husein, Mohammed al-Zino, Wael Ayan, Abdulkader Deka, Sanharib Malki, Samer Aouad (Firas al-Khatib, 63).