April 28, 2024

Jordan scored two objectives in harm time to beat Iraq 3-2 [Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images]

Hosts and holders Qatar fought again to defeat Palestine 2-1 and attain the Asian Cup quarter-finals on Monday, becoming a member of a Jordan facet who struck twice in harm time to stun Iraq.

Qatar will face the winner of Tuesday’s last-16 assembly between Uzbekistan and Thailand, the lowest-ranked crew left in Doha at 113 on this planet.

A younger lady within the crowd on the tent-like Al-Bayt Stadium north of Doha held up an indication that stated “Sorry Palestine” after the ultimate whistle.

Palestine coach Makram Daboub stated he was happy with his “champions” as their finest Asian Cup got here to an finish within the final 16.

Palestine had been taking part in within the knockout rounds for the primary time and, towards the backdrop of the Israel’s conflict on Gaza, took a shock first-half lead.

Recent from beating Hong Kong 3-0 for his or her first win within the competitors’s historical past, Palestine made a brilliant begin and Oday Dabbagh fired them forward on 37 minutes.

He and his team-mates celebrated by crossing their raised arms in a handcuffs gesture to symbolise the plight of the Palestinian individuals.

Qatar had didn’t settle in entrance of an expectant dwelling crowd and the Palestinians, ranked 99 to the hosts’ 58, had been dreaming of creating extra historical past by advancing towards the chances.

However captain Hassan Al-Haydos got here to Qatar’s rescue on the stroke of half-time when he rammed the ball previous goalkeeper Rami Hamada after a nook was neatly in the reduction of to him by Akram Afif.

4 minutes after the break Afif scored his fourth purpose of the event, from the penalty spot, and Qatar cruised via the remainder of the match.

Daboub stated his gamers “gave every little thing regardless of the very tough circumstances”.

“I am unable to ask any extra of them – they’ve honoured Palestinian soccer,” he stated.

The attendance of greater than 60,000 meant this 18th version is already the most-watched Asian Cup with 1.06 million individuals via the turnstiles up to now, beating the 1.04 million who attended in China in 2004.

Jordan’s gorgeous comeback

Jordan will meet Tajikistan within the quarter-finals after scoring twice in three minutes deep in stoppage time to beat Iraq 3-2.

There have been chaotic scenes in Iraq’s post-match press convention when indignant Iraqi reporters confronted the crew’s Spanish coach Jesus Casas, earlier than safety stepped in to usher them away.

“It pains me what occurred,” Casas stated of the incident.

Jordan had a person benefit after the 77th-minute dismissal of Aymen Hussein – booked for celebrating – however appeared down and out in harm time, just for Yazan Al-Arab to prod in a Ninety fifth-minute leveller.

If that was onerous to imagine, higher was to return two minutes later for Jordan when Nizar Al-Rashdan curled in from outdoors the field to fireside the underdogs into the final eight and spark wild celebrations.

Iraq’s heartbroken gamers had been left flat-out on the turf, their goals of repeating the nation’s fairytale 2007 Asian Cup title in some way snatched from their grasp.

Jordan’s coach Hussein Ammouta agreed with Casas that the tough dismissal of Hussein for a second yellow card for over-celebrating what he thought was Iraq’s winner modified the sport.

“The second half belonged to them, they scored two objectives after which needed to proceed with 10 gamers,” stated the Moroccan.

Jordan, who held South Korea 2-2 within the group section, subsequent face a Tajikistan facet who’re one of many shock packages of the competitors on their Asian Cup debut.

On Tuesday, Jurgen Klinsmann’s South Korea play Roberto Mancini’s Saudi Arabia for the suitable to face Australia within the final eight.

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