Doha, 29 January 2024 - Jordan showed amazing resilience to come from behind to defeat Iraq 3-2 in their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Round of 16 tie at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday.
Down 2-1 after having taken the lead, stoppage time goals from Yazan Al Arab and Nizar Al Rashdan pushed Jordan over the finishing line in a hugely exciting tie that had seen Iraq reduced to 10 players after having taken the lead, with Aymen Hussein sent off after netting their second goal.
Jordan will play Tajikistan in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Head coach Jesus Casas made nine changes to the Iraqi starting 11 that defeated Vietnam 3-2 on Matchday Three of the group stage, with 10 of the players who were in the team that featured in the 2-1 win over Japan, returning to the fold.
The 2007 AFC Asian Cup winners wasted little time in asserting their authority with Ahmed Al Hajjaj just failing to reach Ali Jasim’s corner in the second minute.
Jordan, however, began to find their footing and threatened in the 11th minute with Yazan Al Naimat’s ambitious long range effort sailing over the bar, while Iraq’s Youssef Amyn wasted another chance off a set-piece situation four minutes later.
The action was thick and fast with Iraq keeper Jalal Hassan forced to come outside his area in the 18th minute to foil Yazan Al Naimat’s attempt with Ali Olwan hitting wide on the follow up. The duo threatened again a minute later, forcing Hassan into a diving save.
Jordan looked dangerous when counter attacking and came close again just before the half-hour mark with Olwan cutting through the defence courtesy of a Ehsan Haddad through ball, only to be foiled by the agile Hassan.
Jordan put Iraq under pressure again in the 38th minute when Mousa Tamari weaved his way into the box past three defenders before being foiled by Hassan but their persistence finally paid off in the closing stages of the half.
Al Naimat pounced on a poor back pass by Ahmed Al Hajjaj before waltzing through the Jordan defence to finish with a sublime effort past a helpless Hassan.
Iraq were far from disheartened and took immediate control of the proceedings when the second half kicked off and almost found their way through in the 56th minute with Hussein Ali Haidar bringing out the best from Jordan custodian Yazeed Abulaila, who later blocked Ali Jasim’s effort from inside the box.
A lapse in concentration then gave Iraq the opportunity to draw level in the 68th minute when Suad Natiq rose highest to nod home Jassim’s corner.
A stunned Jordan then fell behind in the 76th minute when Hussein pounced on a poor clearance from inside the six-yard-box before drilling his effort into the bottom left corner of the net.
Iraq’s celebrations, however, were short lived as Hussein received his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card in the aftermath of the goal,
With a one man advantage, Jordan refused to give up and drew level in the sixth minute of added time with Al Arab scoring off a rebound after Hassan saved Tamari’s initial effort.
They were, however, not done yet as Al Rashdan (pictured above) scored the winner a minute later with a beautiful effort from just outside the area as Jordan advanced to the quarter-finals and Iraq were left heartbroken.
