Jordan top group III

Jordan top group III
B David

Margao, January 16: After a dull and dreary first session which failed to rise to the expectations, Jordan raised the tempo of the game striking twice in the second half to send Hong Kong packing out and topped Group III of the Sahara Cup Millennium football tournament at the Nehru Stadium, Fotorda, here on Tuesday.

With this 2-0 victory, Jordan topped the group with six points and will travel to Kolkata to take on Group IV runners-up on January 21 while Romania, who finished runners-up in this group, will stay back in Goa to play the Group I winners on January 20 in the quarter-finals.

Jordan, who needed just a draw to top the group, lacked the sting upfront. Hong Kong did enjoy possession of ball for better part and had a fair share of exchanges before the break but their moves fizzled out before they entered the box. Jordan defence did an admirable job with central defender Haitham Hemrin being a tower of strength and was ably assisted by Adnan Al-Shuaibat and Muhanned Mahadeen in thwarting the dangerous Hong Kong forwards Kowk Yue Hung and Wong Chi Keung.

Jordan coach Ricardo Carugati brought in Badran Shaqran in place of Ghanem Hamarsheh after the breather and the 26-year old striker from Al-Ramtha Club got into business immediately, moving menacingly in the attack. He found success four minutes after the breather hoisting the lead for Jordan. A curling flag kick by Hitham Al Shboul into the goalmouth was headed by Muhanned Mahadeen to an unmarked Shaqran, who rose high and headed home with Hong Kong keeper Chan Ka Ki out of charge (1-0).

Thereafter, Jordan played safe and were content with the occasional raid. The second goal came five minutes from close, following a defensive lapse by Hong Kong’s Lee Chi Ho. Jordan’s Shboul went on a solo down the middle, dodged past Chi Ho, and lashed home with his left-footed grounder that settled in the right corner (2-0).

Hong Kong coach Arie Adrianus, who made eight changes in the line-up that played Romania, said that he wanted to test all his players so as to build a team for the World Cup qualifiers. ‘‘Our priorities were different and we are testing the midfield to build our team,’’ he added.

Though the Jordan coach, Ricardo Carugati, was not happy with his midfield in the first session, he said that his boys played intelligently in the second session. ‘‘We did not take any risks after being one-up and we are looking forward to the quarterfinal,’’ he quipped.