Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Melbourne: Striker Hamza Al Dardour insists “nothing is impossible in football” as Jordan seek to secure a third AFC Asian Cup quarter-final appearance when they meet defending champions Japan on Tuesday.
Al Dardour became only the fourth player in the history of the AFC Asian Cup to score four goals in a single game as Jordan kept their Group D campaign alive with a 5-1 victory over Palestine on Friday after Ray Wilkins’ side had earlier lost 1-0 to Iraq.
Watch Asian Cup 2015's first hat-trick by Al Dardour.
But with four-time winners Japan still needing to avoid defeat at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium to seal their own progress at the top of the table, Jordan also must claim a positive result on Tuesday to keep their hopes alive with Iraq rounding off their campaign against Palestine in Canberra.
“Japan are a big team, but the lads are ready for the game. We are doing our preparations and we are all concentrated and we will do our best to put our best effort on the pitch,” said 23-year-old Al Dardour.
“We won against Japan during the World Cup qualifiers and we can do it again, nothing is impossible in football.
“The last game against Palestine gave us a lot of motivation for the team as well as myself as I scored a super hat-trick and I will do my best efforts in the game against Japan to help the team, whether it is scoring or not. We will all put everything onto the pitch. The lads are motivated for the game and we hope that we can win and advance to the next round.”
Al Dardour, though, is not guaranteed to start in Melbourne despite his heroics against Palestine with coach Wilkins confirming striker Ahmad Hayel is in contention to feature after missing Friday’s win due to health concerns.
“The coach gave me my chance in the last match and I proved my worth. Regardless of whether he will pick me or Ahmad Hayel or both, this is a decision for the coach,” added Al Dardour.
“If I play it will be great, every player in the world likes to play as a starter, if not, that is the coach’s decision. We are here to serve our country if we play or don’t play; everyone is here to serve and what the coaches tell us we are going to follow.
“We are here to qualify, we can qualify, and we are here to serve.”
Jordan’s chances of success on Tuesday are boosted by a strong recent record against Japan after claiming a 2-1 win in Amman in March 2013 during the final round of qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in March 2013.
Japan had earlier claimed a 6-0 win in Saitama, although Jordan have held the Samurai Blue to 1-1 draws at the AFC Asian Cup in 2011 and 2004. The Japanese went onto win the 2004 quarter-final tie on penalties after extra-time.
“It is a different game as it is at the AFC Asian Cup and it is not in Jordan or Japan, but we are ambitious. Just like the Japanese are ambitious, the Jordanians are ambitious,” said Al Dardour.
“We are going to go out there and do our best as it is a matter of life and death for us.”
Photo: WSG