‘Jordanian coach injured while celebrating team’s victory’

AMMAN — Head coach of the Jordanian U-22 national team Islam Thiabat suffered a head injury that required stitches while celebrating his team’s 1-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates Sunday evening in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-22 Championship in Oman, according to the AFC website.

The coach was injured as he was celebrating his team’s only goal, scored by Ibrahim Daldoum in the 84^rd minute, following a barrage of wasted chances that kept UAE goalkeeper and defence busy most of the match.

“I bled for my home country, too, like my players; it gives me more motivation to win,” Thiabat was quoted by the website as saying following the victory which moved Jordan to the semifinals.

“I love my players, they love me, and we came here to win this title, it doesn’t matter who we have to face next, be it Australia or Saudi Arabia,” Thiabat said of his team’s upcoming encounter in the semis.

“I thank the players for their efforts; they gave 100 per cent in this game,” he said.

In another quarterfinal match, South Korea beat Syria 2-1 to move to the semis.

Jordan topped Group A after beating Myanmar 6-1, drawing with South Korea 1-1 and beating hosts, Oman, 1-0.

Jordan and South Korea qualified from their group, Syria and the UAE from Group B, Australia and Japan from Group C, and Iraq and Saudi Arabia from Group D.

The win came despite the suspension for one match of team captain Hamzeh Dardour following an altercation with the linesman after the Myanmar match.

The Kingdom's performance has impressed observers despite the absence from the latest friendlies of seven key players who were on national team duty at the 8^th West Asian Championship.

The line-up was completed in the final two days ahead of the inaugural U-22 tournament, after Jordan played two friendlies, losing 2-1 to China and tying the UAE 1-1.