SEOUL– South Korea managed to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw against Jordan during their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup match on Saturday in Qatar. The result was somewhat fortuitous for the South Korean team, which struggled throughout the game.
According to the Yonhap News Agency, South Korea, ranked 23rd globally, faced a challenging game against the 87th-ranked Jordan at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha. The team initially took the lead with a penalty scored by captain Son Heung-min in the ninth minute. However, their advantage was short-lived as midfielder Park Yong-woo scored an own goal in the 37th minute, bringing the score to a 1-1 tie. Jordan then took the lead with Yazan Al-Naimat's right-footed shot during first-half stoppage time. In a twist of fate, Jordan's Yazan Al-Arab scored an own goal in the second half's early stoppage time, equalizing the score at 2-2.
The draw leaves Jordan still in the lead in Group E with four points, with South Korea trailing on goal difference. Son Heung-min acknowledged his team's fortunate outcome, reflecting on the match where South Korea struggled, especially in the first half against Jordan's physical and fast-paced play.
South Korea did regain control in ball possession in the second half but failed to capitalize on opportunities in the box. Cho Gue-sung missed several chances, including a volley over the net, and Lee Kang-in, despite being a standout in the previous match, had difficulty maintaining control and effectiveness against Jordan.
The team's next match is against Malaysia, ranked 130th, which on paper appears to be an easier contest. However, after the unexpected draw against Jordan, South Korea's superiority on paper is no longer a guarantee of success.
In the group stage, goal difference is a crucial tiebreaker. South Korea needs to secure as many goals as possible against Malaysia to have a chance at topping Group E. This task might be challenging as some of their top offensive players, including Hwang Hee-chan, are not in peak form or are sidelined due to injuries.