Jordan Plot South Korea Upset as Asian Cup Braces for Semi-finals

 Soccer Football - AFC Asian Cup - Round of 16 - Iraq v Jordan - Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar - January 29, 2024 Jordan coach Hussein Ammouta reacts. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - AFC Asian Cup - Round of 16 - Iraq v Jordan - Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar - January 29, 2024 Jordan coach Hussein Ammouta reacts. (Reuters)
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Jordan Plot South Korea Upset as Asian Cup Braces for Semi-finals

 Soccer Football - AFC Asian Cup - Round of 16 - Iraq v Jordan - Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar - January 29, 2024 Jordan coach Hussein Ammouta reacts. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - AFC Asian Cup - Round of 16 - Iraq v Jordan - Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar - January 29, 2024 Jordan coach Hussein Ammouta reacts. (Reuters)

Jordan will make a slice of history when they face Son Heung-min's South Korea in the Asian Cup on Tuesday while hosts and holders Qatar play Iran in the other semi-final.

On paper South Korea would be expected to beat a Jordan side who are the lowest-ranked team left in the tournament and in the last four for the first time.

But Jordan held South Korea 2-2 in the group phase, with Jurgen Klinsmann's side salvaging a draw in injury time when Yazan Al-Arab deflected Hwang In-beom's shot into his own net.

Under their admired Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta, Jordan scored twice at the death to beat Iraq in the last 16 and then saw off fairytale debutants Tajikistan in the quarter-finals.

That put Jordan, who are 87th in the FIFA rankings and made their Asian Cup debut in 2004, into their first semi-final.

"Our eyes are now on the trophy," defender Abdallah Nasib, whose second-half header deflected off Tajikistan defender Vahdat Hanonov for the only goal of the game, told AFP.

"What the Jordanian team has achieved confirms that nothing is impossible."

Of the semi-finalists, Jordan are the only ones never to have won the Asian Cup.

Their opponents South Korea have lifted the trophy twice, but the last time was in 1960 and they are under big pressure at home to end that barren run.

They have not been convincing. Held by Jordan and Malaysia in the group phase, they beat Saudi Arabia in the last 16 on penalties and then needed some magic from Son to see off Australia in extra time.

As well as the enduring quality of skipper and Spurs star Son, Klinsmann's side have also been reliant on a series of late goals to stay alive in Qatar.

South Korean media, who have no fondness for the German Klinsmann, have called it "zombie football". Son says the team's ability to keep coming back from the dead in games is proof of their resilience.

The Koreans will be missing Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae, a rock at the heart of their defense, because of suspension.

Iran close on fourth title

Qatar, who defeated Japan in the 2019 final, and Iran clash on Wednesday in the second semi-final.

Both sides won all three of their group games -- the only teams to do so along with now-eliminated Iraq -- and Iran then squeezed through on penalties against Syria, before beating Japan 2-1 in the last eight.

That victory on Saturday over the pre-tournament favorites, thanks to a stoppage-time penalty from Alireza Jahanbakhsh, has Iran dreaming of a first Asian title since 1976 and fourth overall.

They will welcome back prolific striker Mehdi Taremi after he was suspended for the Japan game.

"This match can be a turning point for Iranian football," coach Amir Ghalenoei said following the victory over Japan.

"Not just for the senior national team, but also for the U23s, U19s and the whole football set-up."



Father and Son Ashley and Tyler Young Could Face Each other in the FA Cup

Everton’s Ashley Young runs into position during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Everton, at the St Marys Stadium in Southampton, Saturday, Nov 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland,File)
Everton’s Ashley Young runs into position during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Everton, at the St Marys Stadium in Southampton, Saturday, Nov 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland,File)
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Father and Son Ashley and Tyler Young Could Face Each other in the FA Cup

Everton’s Ashley Young runs into position during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Everton, at the St Marys Stadium in Southampton, Saturday, Nov 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland,File)
Everton’s Ashley Young runs into position during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Everton, at the St Marys Stadium in Southampton, Saturday, Nov 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland,File)

Former England international Ashley Young could face his 18-year-old son Tyler when Everton hosts Peterborough in the third round of the FA Cup on Thursday.

Ashley Young won the FA Cup in 2016 with Manchester United as well as league titles in England and Italy. But he said the chance to share the field with his son would be bigger than any trophy he has lifted.

“I’ve said it for (a) numerous amount of years that if there was a possibility that we was able to play with each other or play against each other, it tops everything I’ve done in my career,” he told Everton's website. “It’s going to be incredible if it happens and hopefully, fingers crossed, it does.”

The 39-year-old Ashley Young said there would be no danger of split loyalties in the game, The AP reported.

“That just wouldn’t happen ... as soon as the game comes, as soon as the whistle blows, it’s just another opponent, another enemy and we’ll be both be looking to go out and win the game."

Midfielder Tyler spent time at Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers and MK Dons before joining third division Peterborough last year.

He has played only one senior game for Peterborough when he debuted as a substitute in October.

“I wouldn’t say it’s been an easy journey, it’s been a bumpy road but having him (Ashley) is always a good thing to be able to go to if I need help,” Tyler said.

Ashley is in the latter stages of a career that has seen him represent England at the World Cup and play for storied clubs such as United, Inter Milan and Aston Villa.

Among other instances of fathers and sons in the same game, World Cup winner Rivaldo played and scored in the same game as his son Rivaldinho in a Brazilian second division match in 2015.

In October, Lebron and Bronny James made history by becoming the first father and son to play together in the NBA.

In 1990, Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Griffey Sr. hit back-to-back home runs in Major League Baseball.