Jordan march on to last-eight

Jordan came from behind to beat Syria 2-1 at Asian Cup to march through to knock-out stages.

DOHA: Jordan came from behind to beat Syria 2-1 at the Asian Cup to march through to the knock-out stages at their neighbour’s expense and set up a quarter-final clash with Uzbekistan. Unbeaten Jordan join Group B winners Japan in the next round after the East Asian giants thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0.

Mohamad Al Zino put Syria in front but goals from Ali Dyab and Odai Al Saify sealed the victory for Jordan, who needed to draw or a win to advance. Jordan were nearly ahead after only 36 seconds, but Hasan Abdel Fattah fired wide, his shot hitting the side netting. But after that bright start, they faded. Dyab helped turn things through his equaliser in the 30th minute, followed by Al Saify’s winner in the 59th minute.

Meanwhile, Shinji Okazaki scored a hat-trick as Japan crushed Saudi Arabia 5-0, booking a quarter-final spot and mauling the pride of their fellow three-time champions. Ryoichi Maeda also struck twice, either side of half-time, as the Blue Samurai avenged their loss to the Saudis in the 2007 semi-finals, which denied them a record third straight continental title.

Earlier, Qatar and Uzbekistan battled into the Asian Cup quarter-finals which saw perennial under-achievers China crash out.

The unbeaten Uzbeks squandered a 2-1 lead before settling for a nervy 2-2 draw with China to seal top spot in Group A while Qatar saw off Kuwait 3-0, ensuring both sides joined already-qualified Iran in the last-eight.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2011.