Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Nonthaburi: Jordan capped a year of firsts, beating 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup group stage opponents Thailand 2-1 at the SCG Stadium in Nonthaburi.
THAILAND 1 (Ainon Pancha 27’ pen)
JORDAN 2 (Maysa Jbarah 41’, 60’)
Two goals, one in each half, by prolific striker Maysa Jbarah secured the win for Jordan after Thailand had earlier taken the lead through Ainon Pancha’s spot kick.
Coming just three days after they suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Thais, Jordan’s win is the latest in a series of achievements in 2017 – a year in which the Nashmiyat won all five matches in Women’s Asian Cup qualifying, and claimed a first ever success on European soil.
A Jordanian win appeared unlikely when Aimon stabbed home her penalty kick after Nipawan Punyosuk was felled in the area in the 27th minute, but the visitors were level just before half time when a superb shot from the outside of Jbarah’s right boot flew into the top corner from all of 30 metres.
Michael Dickey’s side then took the lead when Jbarah, a new member of the 100 international cap club alongside teammates Stephanie Al-Naber and Aya Al-Majali, breached behind the Thai defensive line and serenely stroked the ball home on the hour mark.
The hosts nearly snatched an equaliser late on, but Alisa Rukpinij’s fine strike was denied by the underside of the crossbar, and the West Asians held on for their first senior victory against Thailand.
Jordan’s win lends credence to Dickey’s aim of finishing in the top two in Group A at next April’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup, with the two nations to meet in what looms as a crucial match at the King Abdullah II Stadium on April 9.
Photo: Football Association of Thailand