Late Own Goal Denies Jordan First Ever Victory Over South Korea in Asian Cup Group E

Jurgen Klinsmann praised his players’ response after South Korea avoided a major upset in the Asian Cup Group E match against Jordan. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, leaving South Korea still to secure their place in the knockout rounds.

The match took place in Doha, Qatar, where Klinsmann expressed his satisfaction with the experience. He emphasized that his team expected a challenging game and understood the importance of learning from such encounters. South Korea took the lead with an early goal scored by Son Heung-min from a penalty kick.

Jordan, however, made a strong comeback with an own goal from Park Yong-woo and a goal from Yazan Al-Naimat, taking the lead at half-time. South Korea struggled to find the net in the second half but managed to equalize in injury time thanks to a deflection off Yazan Al-Arab, resulting in an own goal.

A victory for either team would have secured their place in the knockout rounds with a game to spare. South Korea, having won their first match against Bahrain, will now face Malaysia in their final group game. Klinsmann highlighted the importance of his players’ reaction in difficult situations, commending their resilience.

Son Heung-min, the captain of the South Korean team, dismissed the idea that the pressure of winning the Asian title after such a long time affected him and his teammates. Son, who also plays for Tottenham, stated that he thrives under pressure and loves it.

Jordan, who defeated Malaysia 4-0 in their opening match, still have a strong chance of advancing to the knockout rounds. Coach Hussein Ammouta expressed disappointment at missing out on a historic win but highlighted the team’s resilience against a strong opponent.

Jurgen Klinsmann was forced to make a change to his starting lineup, bringing in goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo due to an injury to Kim Seung-gyu. Kim suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a training session and will be unable to continue in the tournament.

The match featured the use of VAR (Video Assistant Referee), adding an additional layer of scrutiny and decision-making to the game. Both teams will now focus on their final group stage matches, with South Korea aiming to secure their place in the knockout rounds by overcoming Malaysia.