FOOTBALL – Jordan punched their ticket into the quarter-finals after defeating Kyrgyz Republic 1-0 in their AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Group A tie yesterday.
Ali Al Azaizeh’s first half strike secured Jordan the victory as they finished on six points, three behind group winners Vietnam who edged Saudi Arabia 1-0.
Jordan made three changes from the side that defeated Saudi Arabia 3-2 while Kyrgyz Republic made five, with Aziret Ysmanaliev stepping in goal for Kurmanbek Nurlanbekov, who had started the previous two matches.
Kyrgyz Republic sounded the alarm bells in the eighth minute when Marlen Murzakhmatov gained possession at the top of the area and squeezed a shot through a packed box, only to see the ball strike the right post.
Jordan came knocking on Kyrgyz Republic’s door in the 14th minute when a mistake by Khristiyan Brauzman allowed Odeh Fakhoury space, but his effort was comfortably saved by Ysmanaliev.
Both sides continued to press with Yryskeldi Madanov coming close in the 25th minute when his shot from above the area missed the left post, while Azaizeh – who starred with two goals against Saudi Arabia – drilled his effort wide at the other end.
The Central Asian side, however, were left stunned eight minutes later when Anas Al Khab wriggled past his marker on the right before sending a pin-point cross for Azaizeh to power home his header past Ysmanaliev.
Jordan kept their foot on the pedal with Fakhoury dispossessing Aitenir Balbakov to go clear on goal in the 51st minute but Ysmanaliev was quick to come out of his box to smother the danger.
Jordan were denied a second seven minutes later when Ysmanaliev spilled his save inside the box but recovered quickly to block Al Khab’s volley on the follow-up.
The West Asian side comfortably stayed in control for the remainder of the half to seal the win and a quarter-final clash against defending champions Japan.
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