Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Fujairah: Jordan scored five times in a barnstorming second-half to defeat Vietnam 5-2 on Thursday and seal their place in the quarter-finals of the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship as Group C runners-up.
Bilal Qwaider broke the deadlock at the Fujairah Stadium seven minutes after the interval before Nguyen Xuan Nam equalised for Vietnam two minutes later.
Laith Al Bashtawi restored Jordan's lead in the 64th minute and their advantage was extended nine minutes later through substitute Saleh Ibrahim.
Ngyuen Thanh Hien closed the gap with an 84th minute penalty but Jordan finished the match in style with a superb solo effort from Qwaider three minutes later and composed stoppage-time finish from substitute Ahmad Al Essawi sealing the win.
Jordan dominated the contest from the outset with Qwaider heading Al Bashtawi's cross just over the bar in the second minute before Vietnamese keeper Le Van Nghia had to react sharply four minutes later to prevent a deflection off of Khalid Al Abed from a defensive clearance crossing the goal line.
Van Nghia's goalkeeping counterpart Noureddin Ban Ateyah denied Vo Huy Toan as Vietnam had their first attempt at goal in the 12th minute before Jordan skipper Rajaei Ayed came close with a free-kick on the half-hour mark.
Jordan were quick out of the blocks in the second-half and took the lead seven minutes after the restart when Qwaider sent the ball into the top of the net after collecting Fadi Awad's long pass inside the area.
But the lead lasted just two minutes with substitute Xuan Nam sliding in to convert Hi Sy Sam's cross form the left and draw Vietnam level.
In the 57th minute Van Nghia denied Al Bashtawi and then Qwaider a minute later before Vietnam were rescued by the woodwork in the 62nd minute as Al Abed's shot was kept out by the goal frame but Jordan's pressure would finally tell two minutes later when Qwaider latched on to a long ball from defence and lifted the ball over Van Nghia allowing Al Bashtawi to finish with ease.
Jordan gained in confidence and went 3-1 up in the 73rd minute courtesy of substitute Saleh Ibrahim but Vietnam, to their credit, refused to throw in the tell and reduced the deficit with six minute remaining when Thanh Hien successfully converted a penalty that had been awarded after Jordan keeper Bani Ateyah had brought down Xuan Nam in the box.
But any hopes Vietnam harboured of a late comeback evaporated when Qwaider scored one of the goals of the tournament in the 88th minute when coolly put the ball in the back of the net after waltzing past half-a-dozen Vietnamese defender to net Jordan's fourth.
And the scoring didn't end there with substitute Ahmad Al Essawi putting an exclamation mark on the victory with a well-taken fifth in stoppage time to send Jordan into Sunday's quarter-finals, where Group D winners Australia await.