In a stunning turn of events at the Asian Cup, Jordan secured their spot in the tournament’s final for the first time in their history, leaving two-time champions South Korea reeling from a 2-0 defeat.
The pivotal moment came when Mousa Tamari delivered a breathtaking curling strike, leaving South Korea’s defense in disarray and propelling Jordan to victory. Yazan Al-Naimat had set the stage earlier in the second half with a cleverly executed dink, putting Jordan ahead in the high-stakes semifinal clash.
Jordan’s journey to the final marks a significant achievement for the team, who had never progressed beyond the quarter-finals in previous tournaments. Their upcoming opponent in Saturday’s final will be either hosts Qatar or Iran.
South Korea, missing the defensive prowess of Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae due to suspension, struggled to contain Jordan’s relentless pressing tactics from the onset. Despite Son Heung-min’s attempt to find the net with a well-placed chip, his effort was nullified by an offside call, epitomizing South Korea’s frustration in breaking through Jordan’s resilient defense.
An early penalty awarded to South Korea was overturned by the intervention of the video assistant referee, further adding to their woes. Jordan capitalized on defensive lapses from Kim Young-gwon, with Tamari capitalizing on a loose pass to set up Al-Naimat’s composed finish.
Tamari then showcased his individual brilliance, weaving past South Korean defenders before unleashing a precise low curling shot to extend Jordan’s lead. Despite South Korea’s late attempts to salvage the match, including their trademark stoppage-time heroics, they fell short in finding the breakthrough this time around.
The defeat puts the spotlight on South Korea’s manager Jurgen Klinsmann, whose tenure has faced scrutiny from sections of the Korean fanbase. As Jordan celebrates their historic triumph, South Korea must regroup and reflect on their Asian Cup campaign, which fell short of expectations.