DOHA: Ten-man Jordan held on to record a 0-0 draw with Australia at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on Monday as the two nations shared the points in their opening Group A encounter in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024.
Jordan captain Danial Afaneh was sent off in the 82nd minute for a second bookable offence but Abdallah Abu Zema’s side kept the Olyroos at bay at the end of a cagey clash that yielded few clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities for either side.
Jake Hollman side-footed his ninth-minute effort into the hands of Jordan goalkeeper Ahmad Juaidi while moments later Nicolas Milanovic bent his attempt from distance over the bar as Australia dictated the opening exchanges.
The Olyroos shaded a tepid first half, with Alou Kuol’s weak header straight at Juaidi in the 20th minute the closest Tony Vidmar’s side would come to breaking the deadlock in the first 45 minutes.
Instead, it was the Jordanians who almost found the opener a minute before the break.
Juaidi’s long punt forward bounced into the path of Mohannad Abu Taha and, after a cushioned header controlled the ball, the Al Wehdat midfielder stroked a left-foot shot towards the bottom corner that Patrick Beach did well to save low to his right.
Beach was on hand to deny the Jordanians again seconds after the restart, palming Aref Haitham’s strike wide for a corner after the winger had turned past Jacob Farrell 15 yards from goal.
Baker Kamal Kalbouneh thumped his shot over the bar nine minutes into the second half and moments later the substitute headed into the Australian goal, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.
Kalbouneh’s pace and direct running gave the Jordanian attack a focal point that had been lacking before his introduction and kept the Australians pinned back until midway through the half when Vidmar’s side started to find ways through the West Asian side’s defence.
Lachlan Brook was denied by Juaidi when he dropped to his left to steer the Australian’s shot from 20 yards around the post while substitute Mohamed Toure side-footed over the bar after Callum Talbot had found him in space on the edge of the area 12 minutes from time.
Afaneh, who had been booked in the first half for a foul on Kuol, saw red with eight minutes remaining when he again challenged the Australian striker illegally as he burst through from midfield but the Jordanians held out to share the points.
