Jordan beat Tajikistan 1-0 in the first quarterfinal of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar and set up a semifinal against South Korea
Tajikistan team was the lowest-ranked side left in Qatar and won plenty of new friends in the first Asian Cup.
But luck was on Jordan's side under their Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta.
Tajikistan carved out the first big chance, midfielder Ehson Panjshanbe haring into the box and clipping his first-time effort onto the top of Jordan’s bar on 15 minutes.
Shervon Mabatshoyev was crowded out in the box with only Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila to beat but with an hour gone and the semi-finals on the line the game needed a spark.
On 66th minute it got it when Jordan defender Abdallah Nasib rose at a corner and his header deflected off Tajikistan’s Vahdat Hanonov and into his own goal.
Both sides had chances after that but Jordan held on to book their place in the last four.
Recall, Tajikistan beat UAE 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 after extra time in their round-of-16 tie, while Jordan eliminated Iraq with two goals in injury time to win 3-2.
Jordan ranks 87th and Tajikistan ranks 106th in FIFA ranking.
