Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Muscat: Second-choice goalkeeper Ahmad Al Harbi’s heroic penalty save was the catalyst for Saudi Arabia’s 3-1 victory over Jordan in their AFC U-22 Championship semi-final on Thursday at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
With the match delicately poised at 1-1, after Abdullah Al Ammar’s opening goal had been levelled by Hamza Al Daradreh in the first half, Jordan captain Al Daradreh’s 53rd minute spotkick was saved by Al Harbi, featuring in his first game of the tournament following injury to regular Saudi Arabia custodian Mohammed Al Owais in the quarter-final against Australia.
Momentum in the contest noticeably switched and Saudi Arabia scored twice more, first through striker Mohammed Majrashi on 65 minutes and then via a successful penalty kick from Abdulfattah Asiri in stoppage time.
Saudi Arabia now move on to a date with Iraq in the final of the competition on Sunday at Seeb Sports Complex. On Saturday Jordan, meanwhile, will have a second outing against Korea Republic for the tournament’s third spot after having faced them in their Group A tournament opener.
“The Saudi team had to play our best today to beat Jordan,” said Saudi Arabia coach Khalid Al Koroni, who began the game with four players out injured and then saw Ibrahim Al Ibrahim limp off after five minutes.
“I’m not sure why we’re so unlucky with injuries but we have prepared 30 players for this tournament and I give them all the same confidence and motivation. So anyone who plays for this side gives the same high level of performance and helps us to win.
“The penalty save had a lot of impact on the psychological nature of the game for both the Jordan and Saudi team, it helped us to win. But it’s very special that two Arab teams, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, are in the final and special for the Gulf area.”
A frenetic and end-to-end first half began with the game’s opening chance after 12 minutes for Saudi Arabia after a swirling freekick from midfielder Asiri was headed narrowly wide at the back post by Abdullah Madu.
Just three minutes later Jordan tore into their white-clad opponent’s half and Mahmoud Za’tara played in Al Daradreh whose first time shot was turned around the post by Al Harbi in the Saudi Arabia goal.
With the game played at a breathtaking tempo both sides went close with headed efforts, first Saudi Arabia through substitute Majrashi and then Jordan through Za’tara before the game welcomed the opening goal.
On the half-hour mark, a superb combination of passes between Al Ammar and Majrashi saw the former break into the box and fire high past Mustafa Mosameh into the back of the net.
But any Saudi Arabian joy lasted just four minutes, as Ahmad Saleh and Al Daradreh put on their own display of link-up play with Saleh playing through his captain who finished low past Al Harbi.
And the second half didn’t let up in excitement and after eight minutes of the restart Saudi Arabia captain Motaz Hawsawi brought down Al Daradreh inside the penalty box. The Jordan skipper chose to take the resulting spotkick himself but Al Harbi was equal to it and chose correctly diving to his right.
The miss was to prove crucial. Just 12 minutes later the dynamic duo of Al Ammar and Majrashi combined again to devastating effect. This time it was Al Ammar with a cute chipped pass that fell for Majrashi in the box and his spectacular leaping volley looped over Mosameh to restore Saudi Arabia’s lead.
Two chances to equalise in as many minutes fell to Tareq Khattab, but on both occasions the Jordan defender snatched at his shot and blazed over when the ball fell to him inside the penalty box.
And in stoppage time the match ended as contest after Saudi Arabia were awarded a penalty following a foul by Khattab on Majrashi. Asiri stepped up and dispatched the spotkick coolly into the bottom corner.
“The turning point in this game was definitely Hamza’s penalty. When it was saved by the Saudi goalkeeper, the players dropped. It was a mental thing,” said Jordan coach Islam Al Diabat.
“This is the first loss we have had since qualification. But this tournament has been very good for us, I’m proud of my players, and reaching the semi-final was a good result for us.”