“All eyes will be on Khalifa International Stadium this Thursday as two fierce competitors, Jordan and Bahrain, battle it out for a coveted spot in the last 16 of the Asian Cup. Jordan, known as the Chivalrous Ones, have secured their spot at the top of Group E after a thrilling 2-2 draw against South Korea. But Bahrain is not far behind, currently holding third place with a triumphant 1-0 victory over Malaysia. The stakes are high and the excitement is palpable as these two teams fight for their place in the next round.”
Jordan was on the brink of a momentous triumph against the Koreans in their second match of the tournament, but despite their valiant efforts, they could not maintain the lead and ended up conceding an unfortunate own-goal in the final moments. It was a heartbreaking turn of events, especially considering that victory would have secured their spot in the knockout stage for the second consecutive time. This match also marked the first time since 2011 that they were able to bounce back and secure a result at the Asian Cup after giving up the first goal, demonstrating their resilience and determination.
Securing a triumph on Thursday would not only ensure their spot in the final 16 for the second consecutive Asian Cup, but it would also result in them topping their group for the second time in a row. The Jordanian team boasts an untarnished record in this tournament when scoring more than one goal, while they have yet to claim a victory when letting in more than one.
Hussein Ammouta’s team is gearing up for their upcoming match with an impressive track record of only one loss in four games this year. However, they faced a crushing defeat against Japan on January 9th, losing by a whopping 6-1. As they prepare to face Bahrain this Thursday, it will mark their first meeting since 2021. The Jordanian team has emerged victorious in their previous two encounters with Bahrain, each time with a tight score of 2-1.
Bahrain’s patience proved to be a valuable virtue on matchday two, as their persistence paid off with a dramatic goal in the fifth minute of injury time, securing a hard-earned victory. This crucial win guarantees them a spot in at least third place in their group and keeps their hopes alive for advancing to the knockout round. As it stands, they are currently the top-ranked third-place team in the tournament, giving them a good chance at progressing further.
Not only would a win on Thursday secure their place in the knockout stage for the second year in a row in this tournament, but it would also mark their first time topping the group. Bahrain has a strong record of winning their last four matches when scoring the first goal, but they have struggled in their previous three games when conceding the opening goal.
Juan Antonio Pizzi’s team has yet to find the back of the net in the first half of this competition, a feat that Bahrain hasn’t achieved at the Asian Cup since their victory against Qatar in their last group game of 2015 (2-1). In their past seven matchups with Jordan, Bahrain has consistently been on the losing end, with the margin of victory never exceeding one goal. Their last triumph over Jordan dates back to August 2019 (1-0).
