AFC U23 Asian Cup: Manai steals late win for Annabi against lively Jordan

Sudesh Baniya in Jassim bin Hamad Stadium

DOHA: Mohamed Manai scored in the last action of the game as Qatar walked out with a narrow 2-1 win against Jordan, following a lengthy VAR check, at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup on Wednesday.

Riding on the waves of the opening day win and the cozy confines of Jassim bin Hamad stadium, hosts Qatar were rather lucky on the night to walk out victorious, in a game defined just by moments that fell on either side and a resilient defensive performance led by Qatar’s captain Mohamed Aiash.

Abdullah Al Yazidi’s strike late in the first half gave the hosts a lead, only to be neutralized by Aref Haitham’s penalty early in the second half to keep his side’s hopes to qualify for the next round alive. Manai’s header off the last set piece of the game has now made things harder – more calculations and a combination of results will now be required.

The visitors were making things happen early in the first half, controlling possession in the midfield and frequently overloading with the 3-4-1-2 formation that, with the ball, turned into a 3-5-2. Chances, as such, came from left right, and center, with forwards Baker Kalbouneh and Sief Darwish frequently entering the Qatari box.

Chasing the game early on, it was around the half-hour mark that Al Annabi started to grow into the game, the first of those instances being Moustafa Meshaal’s header, saved by the Jordanian goalkeeper, created by a ball off the top from midfield.

It was the duo of Meshaal and Jassem Jaber, both part of the senior team that successfully defended the Asian Cup at home in February, leading the charge in Qatar’s counterattack. Jaber’s long ranger, following a combination of passes from the back, landed on the top of the net.

The breakthrough, created by a similar passing sequence that started from the back, was converted by Al Yazidi from a tight angle off the right flank.

Qatar’s moments of brilliance did not come as often in the second half and conceding one from the penalty spot, only made things worse. After Haitham, sent Yousef Abdullah the wrong way, Jordan found their way into the game, this time more incisive than the first period that they enjoyed.

It was not the last time, however, the Qatari goalkeeper would be called to action by the Jordanian number seven. With a one-on-one save in the 75th minute, and a save off a chance that was created by Haitham’s cut-back after ten minutes, Yousef was kept busier than he was in the first game against Indonesia.

Cranking up the intensity, Jordan missed their chance of winning it as their livewire of the night, failed to place his shot at the far post, after being through on goal.

The shift in momentum, however, occurred in the subsequent play, as the hosts earned a freekick, which was converted by Al Markhiya’s Manai, who came off the bench with just five minutes of regular time remaining.

Qatar had to wait for long before they could celebrate again as the VAR check on the build-up to the header, a tug by Tameem Mansour, took long enough to frustrate either dugout.

The decision eventually went Qatar’s way, who will now sit at the top of the group and will return to the same venue to face Australia on Sunday.