In a spectacular display of skill and prowess, Jordan and Iraq secured resounding victories in their respective Asian Cup group openers on Monday. Jordan emerged triumphant with a convincing 4-0 win over Malaysia, claiming the top spot in Group E, while Iraq showcased their strength with a 3-1 victory over Indonesia in Group D.
Jordan’s Mahmoud Al-Mardi showcased early excellence with a goal that could contend for the tournament’s best, as he skillfully launched a shot from outside the box, soaring it over the keeper and into the top corner at the far post. Musa Al-Taamari extended Jordan’s lead by converting a penalty, awarded after a VAR review for a foul on Yazan Al-Naimat. Al-Mardi further asserted Jordan’s dominance with his second goal, a tap-in following a precise setup by Yazan Al-Naimat. Al-Taamari sealed the victory with his second goal, cleverly lobbing the keeper in the 85th minute.
Simultaneously, Indonesia, making their return to the Asian Cup after a hiatus since 2007, put up a commendable fight against Iraq in the first 45 minutes. However, Iraq’s Mohanad Ali opened the scoring, only to be equalized by Marselino Ferdinan after an impressive play by Yakob Sayuri. The turning point came just before halftime when Osama Rashid capitalized on a goalkeeper’s spill to score from close range, giving Iraq a crucial advantage. Substitute Aymen Hussein secured the victory for Iraq with a well-timed header and a volley from the edge of the six-yard box in the 75th minute, bringing the final score to 3-1.
These victories position Jordan at the top of Group E, ahead of South Korea, who secured a 3-1 win against Bahrain earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Iraq stands second in Group D, trailing behind four-times champions Japan, who triumphed 4-2 against Vietnam on Sunday. The strong performances by Jordan and Iraq have set the stage for an exciting and competitive journey in the Asian Cup group stage.
