Jordan, Yemen share points; Tajiks maintain clean sheet

KATHMANDU, Oct 27: Jordan and Yemen shared points on Tuesday as they played out a 2-2 draw in the AFC U-19 group ´A´ qualifiers held at the Dasharath Stadium. Al-Worafi of Yemen and Hamza Ali of Jordan scored a brace each for their teams. [break]

The technically sound Yemen players dominated the first half of the tense match. Altogether ten yellow cards, five each for both, were shown in the match. One player each from both teams got the marching order after they were booked with second yellow card in the match.

Yemen took the lead in the last minute of the first half. Al-Worafi scored a spectacular goal inside the box utilizing a pass from Al-Hagri.

However, Yemen´s dominance ended in the 50th minute after midfielder Ali Mohammed was sent off after he was booked with the second yellow card. Jordan leveled the match in the 62nd minute against the 10-men opponents through Hamza Ali. Ali made a powerful strike from about 25 yards to take the score to 1-1.

But, Jordan´s Mohmoud Zarara was too sent off after he conceded the second yellow card. Again, Yemen took the lead in the 72nd minute as Al-Worafi gave a beautiful finishing touch utilizing a pass from Al-Hagri to lead his team again. But Hamza Ali canceled the lead 14 minutes later directing a long cross pass ball off Al-Hubaishi toward the goal post.

Jordan coach Semida Mohamed said that his team showed a good footballing. However, he said, “We lost two points.” Yemen coach Sami Hasan said that the match was tough for both the teams. He also congratulated the Jordan team for their good performance. “However, I am not satisfied with the results,” he said.

Tajikistan defeat Palestine 3-0

Tajikistan defeated Palestine 3-0 at APF ground, Halchowk, maintaining their undefeated record both in the U-16 and U-19 games till date.

Tajikistan´s forward Davronov Nuriddin scored an early goal in the 10th minute giving the team the lead. Palestine made few attempts to score but were unable to finish.

Gaforov Shodivek doubled the lead in the second half. Shodivek scored a one-versus-one goal against the Palestine custodian Mohammad Yahya in the 60th minute. Yahya touched the ball but could not deflect it outside the net.

Tajik defender Abdulloev Sheroz sealed the match with a penalty shot six minutes later.

Palestine coach Moussa Bezaz said that his team´s good players couldn´t come here because of passport problem. “We tried our best but couldn´t succeed,” said Bezaz.

Tajikistan coach Gafurov Salokhidin said, “The first half was of the same level but the Palestine team got mentally nervous in the second half.” He said it was not going to be easy for his team ahead as Yemen and Jordan were good teams but also said that his team had been preparing for this competition since the last two years.