Doha, December 12 (QNA) - Jordan qualified for the semifinals of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 after defeating Iraq 1-0 in their quarterfinal match Friday at Education City Stadium. The tournament is currently being held in Doha and will continue until December 18.
The only goal of the match was scored by Ali Alwan from a penalty kick in the 41st minute. Jordan will now face Saudi Arabia in the semifinals, after the latter defeated Palestine 2-1 in extra time.
The match began cautiously, with both teams focusing on defensive stability and maintaining a strong presence in midfield. Jordan held a slight advantage in possession and attacking opportunities.
They created the first real threat in the 10th minute when Mahmoud Al Mardi attempted a backheel shot, which was saved by the Iraqi goalkeeper. The Jordanian national team suffered a blow when Al Arabi's striker, Yazan Al Naimat, was forced off injured in the 13th minute, replaced by Awda Al-Fakhouri.
This disrupted the attacking plans of Moroccan coach Jamal Sellami, who was forced to reshuffle the positions of his three forwards.
The Iraqi team tried to assert their dominance by intensifying their attacking efforts. Amjad Atwan threatened the goal with a powerful shot that went over the crossbar in the 19th minute, while Mohanad Ali's shot went just wide of the post in the 23rd minute.
The Jordanian team regained control and began to exert significant influence over the proceedings. Ali Alwan almost scored when he received a pass from Awda Al Fakhoury inside the penalty area, but his powerful shot was saved by the goalkeeper in the 34th minute. A minute later, the defense cleared a header from Mahmoud Al Mardi.
The Jordanian pressure paid off with the opening goal when Mahmoud Al-Mardi sent in a cross that Mohanad Abu Taha met with a powerful header.
The ball struck the hand of defender Mustafa Saadoun, and the referee, after consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), awarded a penalty kick. Ali Alwan, the penalty specialist, successfully converted the spot kick in the 41st minute.
Substitute Awda Al Fakhoury scored a second goal after a pass from Ali Alwan, but the referee disallowed it for offside in stoppage time of the first half, which ended with the Jordanian team leading 1-0.
The Iraqi national team started the second half aggressively, searching for an equalizer. Ali Jassim came close to scoring in the 57th minute with a powerful shot that Jordanian goalkeeper Yazeed Abu Laila parried for a corner. Substitute Hassan Abdul Karim's header went just wide of the post in the 62nd minute.
The Iraqi team dominated the proceedings, laying siege to their opponent's goal and creating numerous chances.
The most notable was a low shot from Ali Jassim just outside the penalty area, which the goalkeeper saved in the 70th minute.
In the final minutes, the Iraqi team threw everything into attack, squandering several opportunities.
The best of these was a one-on-one chance for Mohammed Saadoun, whose powerful shot was brilliantly saved by Yazeed Abu Laila in stoppage time.
The Jordanian team maintained their defensive solidity and secured a 1-0 victory, guaranteeing their passage to the semi-finals. (QNA)