2016 AFC U-23 Championship Day 3 Recap

PFDC – DOHA, Group D action began today as a brace from Baha’ Faisal earned Jordan a 3-1 win over Vietnam while a tight game between Australia and UAE was decided with a late own-goal.

Jordan v Vietnam

At the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium, Vietnamese keeper Phi Minh Long was kept busy in goal today as the Jordanians got off to an ideal start in the AFC U-23 Championship with a 3-1 victory.

The breakthrough for Jordan came late in the first half when midfielder Faisal beat the Vietnamese offside trap by receiving a pass from Ahmad Hisham and afterward beat the Vietnamese keeper one on one to put Jordan in the lead.

The Vietnamese side were determined to keep playing tight defense and did a good job protecting their penalty area but they could do nothing to stop a world-class strike from defender Omar Al-Manasrah in the 68th minute from well outside the penalty area. Al-Manasrah’s shot dipped over Phi Minh Long and bounced off the bottom of the crossbar and into the goal to give Jordan a 2-0 lead.

The Jordanians nearly had another long range goal four minutes later when Hisam’s shot rattled the crossbar but Faisal was in the right place at the right time to score his second of the match as he headed in the rebound to put Jordan in an unassailable lead.

Vietnam got a late consolation goal in the 86th minute when Duy Manh was left unmarked on a corner kick to score with a nice side volley. The Jordanians were upset with conceding the goal but they did their job by earning the valuable three points.

Australia v United Arab Emirates

The action continued at the Grand Hamad Stadium between Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

In the first half, UAE had half a chance at best when Sultan Saif’s attempt from outside the penalty area went straight at Australian keeper Jack Duncan.

Connor Pain had an excellent opportunity to get Australia on the scoreboard in the second half when his left-footed shot inside the penalty area barley missed the far post.

Later in the half, the UAE almost took the lead on a long range shot from Waleed Ambar that was denied by a diving Duncan.

Finally, with four minutes remaining the ball found its way into the six-yard box after a corner kick for the UAE. Second half substitute Ahmed Al-Hashmi got his head on a ball the Australians were desperately trying to clear but then defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco did get his foot on the ball in an attempt to force a corner kick. Instead, the ball went right into his own net as keeper Duncan could only watch.

The own-goal decided the match as the UAE celebrated the victory and earned the valuable three points to start the tournament.

Group D Schedule for January 17

Vietnam v Australia
UAE v Jordan

Image courtesy of the-afc.com