Jordan takes on Japan in AFC Cup match

AMMAN — Jordan plays Japan on Tuesday in a decisive Group D match at the 16th Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup currently under way in Australia.

The 11am Amman local time match is crucial for Jordan who hopes to repeat its quarter-final qualification from 2004 and 2011.

“There has not been an upset at this tournament yet, but there is a first time for everything,” Jordan coach Ray Wilkins told reporters in Australia on Friday.

Few give Jordan a chance though and the tournament’s big guns have progressed with relative ease from the other pools, but former England midfielder Wilkins believes it is time for a surprise Down Under, according to Reuters.

“Our expectations are obviously a game that is going to be extremely tough against a very, very good side,” Wilkins said.

“Japan have a number of very good players but we have prepared ourselves for what will be a very tough game.”

A win will secure Jordan’s qualification as hopes of advancing to the quarters this time still hangs in the balance with the Palestine-Iraq match being played at the same time. Japan leads the group after it beat first-time qualifiers Palestine 4-0 and Iraq 1-0.

“I think obviously it is important that we are still in the game for 55 minutes to an hour,” Wilkins told Reuters.

“If we go gung-ho against the Japanese it could be extremely difficult because they are a very, very good side. We will be cautious and with every opportunity we get to attack them we will attack them.”

Jordan went down 1-0 to Iraq in its opening match, but rebounded with a 5-1 win over Palestine to avoid an early exit when substitute striker Hamza Dardour scored four goals to end an 11-match unbeaten run.

Dardour, who was described as a player with the “strongest pair of legs” by commentators in the AFC, said: “It does not matter who plays, the team’s result is what is important. Japan is a strong team but nothing is impossible.”

Jordan beat Japan 2-1 last year in World Cup qualifiers.

Since first taking part in Asian Cup qualifiers in 1971, this is Jordan’s third time at the Asian Cup finals.

Jordan is now 93rd in the latest FIFA World Rankings while group leaders Japan are 54th, Iraq 114th and Palestine 115th.