Jordan stuns South Korea to qualify for their first AFC Asian Cup final

Goals from Yazan Al Naimat and Mousa Al Tamari secured Jordan a sensational 2-0 win over South Korea as the West Asian side advanced to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup final at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday.

A dominant performance from start to finish saw Jordan upstage a South Korean side who simply couldn’t match the pace and determination of their opponents, who booked a spot in the AFC Asian Cup final for the first time in history.

Jordan didn’t waste time in taking the game to South Korea, with their fast start almost catching the East Asian side by surprise, Al Naimat’s low strike in the fourth minute from just inside the area forcing goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo into a diving save.

The West Asian side looked dangerous every time they transitioned into attack with Al Tamari waltzing his way past three defenders before setting up Noor Al Rawabdeh, who brought the best out of Jo.

South Korea slowly grew into the match, with Son Heung-min’s effort in the 19th minute ruled out for offside while Lee Kang-in failed to find the target from inside the box in the 24th.

Jordan looked menacing each time they ventured forward, but wasted a flurry of chances, with Al Naimat missing from inside the area before pulling his effort just wide in the 27th, while Al Tamari blazed his shot over the bar from just above the box.

At the other end, South Korea had a penalty overruled following a VAR review in the 30th minute before Lee Jae-Sung hit the upright from Hwang In-beom’s cross.

Jordan’s pace at the start of the second half was not as intense, but they continued to dictate terms, with the Koreans struggling to keep the ball.

The West Asian side’s positive play finally delivered dividends in the 53rd when Al Tamari pounced on a poor back pass from Jung Seung-Hyunto to send a well-timed pass to Al Naimat, who lobbed the ball over the advancing Jo for the opening goal.

Having fallen behind for the fifth time in six matches, South Korea sent on Cho Gue-sung to add more depth to their attacks, but the No 9 failed to find the target at the hour mark when he sent his headed attempt off Kang-in’s corner over the bar.

That was to prove costly as Jordan struck again six minutes later, Al Tamari brilliantly cutting inside from just above the area before unleashing a low drive past a despairing Cho.

South Korea’s attempts to find a way back were easily repelled from there on as Jordan held on for a well-deserved place in the AFC Asian Cup final.