SPORTS WORLD: 14th Asian Cup Soccer: Jordan register 8th consecutive win over Pakistan

Jordan have registered their eighth consecutive victory over Pakistan when they outclassed their hosts 3-0, in the 14th Asian Cup Qualifier (Group-C), match played under newly-stalled flood lights second leg at Lahore's Punjab Stadium on Wednesday (October 11).
The quarter-finalist of the last edition of the Asian Cup, played in China two years ago, the Jordanians kept their hopes alive for a berth in the last 16 by securing seven points in five outings so far. It was Jordan's second win.
Pakistan, having the services of 14 Under-23 players, who won the gold in 10th South Asian Games soccer tournament played at Colombo on August 26, suffered their eighth straight defeat.
Jordan are 64 place better than Pakistan in the monthly FIFA ranking. Though the ranking is merely on paper and the ground reality is different. India are above all SAARC teams in FIFA ranking, but it is the performance of a team which matters. Last year, the Indian team toured Pakistan and the hosts played very well and even recorded their best-ever win against the visitors (3-0 at Lahore).
However, the tourists started their game with suspended players Qusai Abu Alieh and Bashar Bani Yaseen and missing players Moayad Abuleshek and keeper Lo'ai Al Amaireh due to injury problems.
They opened their account in the 17th minute through spearhead Abdel Hadi El Maharmeh, who punished a defensive blunder and poked the ball gently past keeper Muhammad Shahzad, who replaced seasoned keeper Jaffar Khan. The non-availability of Jaffar allowed Muhammad Essa the captain's armband, becoming 47th skipper of Pakistan in the country's 59-year soccer history.
FIRST CHANGE:
Pakistan got their first chance in the 21st minute when striker Shahid Ahmed put the ball over the bar after a fine work by Muhammad Rasool. Jordan forced another opportunity in the 25th minute when left-out Rafat Jaber saw his drive was saved by Shahzad on his second attempt.
Shahzad brought another save from Rafat in the 34th minute and a minute later, keeper Amer Sabbah foiled Pakistan's winger Adeel Ahmed's header off Imran Niazi's cross.
Jordan put the issue out of Pakistan's reach in the 37th minute when right winger Amir Khalil cut in from right gallery and tapped the ball in front of left-winger Rafat Jaber whose fierce drive went into the cage off keeper Shahzad's hand.
Five minutes from breather, Khalil might have scored another but his shot went wide off right post with keeper Shahzad helpless. Jordan were 2-0 up at interval.
SECOND SESSION:
The second session saw Pakistan fail to stop Jordan's resistance and in the 50th minute, midfielder Hassouneh Qasem came close and seven minutes later El Maharmeh saw his drive go over the bar. Midfielder Muhammad Rasool, the best player on the night for home team, came close in the 57th and 65th minute, but Sabbah was alert under the bar. Jordan might have been 3-0 up in the 77th minute, but Rafat, who moved in off substitute Maoyad Mansour defence-splitting pass, saw his shot ricocheted off right upright and went wide.
But Jordan's third strike came in the 84th minute. Midfielder Khalid Almaltaah whose low drive went past Shahzad's right hand picked Mansour, who was creating problem for Pakistani left full back Muhammad Imran time and again, went in and saw his drive.
The 90-minute Pakistan-Jordan clash as expected proved a great success as a large number of football fans thronged the Punjab Football Stadium, which was tastefully decorated with the national flags of both the countries. Quite a good number of Jordanians, living in Lahore, were also there to encourage their heroes in action.
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Secretary Arshad Khan Lodhi was all praise for Punjab Football Association (PFA) and Organising Committee Chairman Muhammad Irfan Gauhar for their co-operation and efforts to make the event a big success.
Now the 12 qualifiers will join the final phase (from July 7 to 29, 2007). For the first time in its history, the competition will be co-hosted by four nations -- Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.