Jordan, which maintained its cent percent winning run in the five-team qualifiers, finished on top of the table with 12 points. [break]In course of achieving its fourth consecutive victory, Jordan staged a valiant comeback from a goal down to turn the match around in the last seven minutes.
In the day´s kickoff match, Yemen had thumped Bangladesh 5-1 to go level on points with Uzbekistan and keep alive its hopes of advancing to the finals.
Following the results of their last matches, both Uzbekistan and Yemen have seven points each and a goal difference of plus one. However, Uzbekistan secured a berth in the finals to be held in 2013 as it has scored eight goals against Yemen´s seven.
(Photo: Bikash Karki)
The top two teams from all seven groups and the best second runner-up from among all the groups will qualify for the finals.
In the late match of the day played under floodlights, Uzbekistan was poised to advance as the group winner as it had taken a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute. But the Uzbeks conceded the equalizer in the 83rd minute. Uzbekistan was reduced to 10 men one minute from time after its defender Khashimov Davronbek was sent off for a second bookable offence. He had received his first yellow card in the 10th minute.
Substitute Oudi Khader Salem Al Qara, the 69th minute replacement for Monther Abu Amara, scored twice for Jordan. Qara found the equalizer in the 83rd and made it 2-1 four minutes later.
Defender Khalil Zaid Kh Baniateyah sealed the victory for Jordan during the fading moments of the five-minute stoppage time. Baniateyah had come in for Oday Zahran in the 52nd minute.
Earlier, Uzbekistan had taken the lead through skipper Abdukholiqov Temurkhuja who chipped over advancing goalie Mustafa Abu Mosameh.
Uzbek coach Evstafeev Aleksey said his side was overconfident after scoring the first goal. "The boys were overconfident after scoring the goal in the first half."
Jordan coach Daian Saleh attributed his side´s winning run in the qualifiers to their successful tactics. "Our tactics worked well," said Saleh, adding that their performance during the qualifiers would boost the team´s confidence in the finals.
Earlier, forward Yaser Al Gabr completed the first hat-trick of the tournament in course of Yemen´s 5-1 routing of Bangladesh. Gabr scored in the 30th, 71st and 87th minutes. Mohammed Al Ghamri had opened the scoring in the 14th minute and Sadam Hussein added another in the 33rd. Rana scored a consolation goal for Bangladesh in the 75th minute.
Bangladesh finished at the bottom of the table remaining pointless.
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