The best game of the competition so far saw Jordan eventually thump Palestine 5-1 to qualify for the next round. The scoreline suggests a massacre but it was far from that as, for the most part, Palestine gave as good as they got as they sought the win that would have seen them through. While the game may have lacked the sophistication and physicality of the Premier league, we were treated to two well matched tams going at each other often in a gung-ho fashion that could easily have resulted in double the amount of goals we ended up with.
Jordan took an early lead when a weaving run by man-of-the match Mohammad Abu Zraiq, known as Shahara (spark), was ended by a reckless Holgate-like lunge by the Palestinian centre-half - penalty, 1-0. Palestine came storming back and should have levelled a few minutes later when a low cross from the left reached the far post where the Rondon lookalike, Salem Khaled, lumbered in but completely missed his kick with the goal gaping before him. It was to be the first of many head in hands moments for the Palestinians.
The game flowed from end to end but Jordan doubled their lead in the 24th minute when a good move down the left saw the ball pulled back from the dead-ball line for the unmarked Aldaradeh to poke home from close range. This only encouraged Palestine to throw more men forward but the otherwise impressive Seyam squandered another golden chance with a comically mishit finish. Happily, he made amends just minutes before the interval with a leaping header from a left wing cross. Palestine back in it.
The 2nd half began with Jordan, having been pushed back in the closing stages of the 1st half, looking to get back on the front foot but the game remained wide open with chances at both ends. Gradually, though, Palestine got on top and in the 72nd minute it looked as though they had the equaliser they deserved when Seyam turned in a low inswinging cross from the left. Unfortunately the linesman had his flag up for offside against the player who'd crossed the ball. Even on the replays it looked level to me but they are using an experimental semi-automated technology for offsides, so no-one could argue, but several devastated Palestinian players were down on their hands and knees at the decision.
Jordan made the most of their reprieve and with 8 minutes left a shot from inside the bow deflected off a defender and spun like a Shane Warne googly into the far corner of the net. Two more goals piled on the agony for Palestine and both sides missed chances for even more goals before the final whistle. Tough on Palestine, but Jordan deservedly through for being that bit more clinical and slightly less naive.
The other game in the group saw Morocco beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 with a penalty just before the interval.
The qualifiers from the final group had already been decided so Algeria and Egypt were battling for top spot - it finished 1-1 and with identical goal difference it was decided on 'fair play' - going into injury time both teams had 3 bookings but the referee booked an Algerian, then sent another off, so Egypt finish top. The other game saw Sudan deservedly claim the wooden spoon as they lost for the third time, 1-0 to Lebanon.
Quarter-Finals
Tunisia v Oman, Qatar v UAE, Egypt v Jordan, Morocco v Algeria.
