Jordan secured a place in the Arab Cup semifinals after a disciplined and controlled 1–0 victory over Iraq on Friday. The match was tightly contested from the start, with both teams creating early chances in a first half that was all about balance.
Then in the 41st minute, Jordan broke the deadlock when Olwan converted a penalty awarded for a handball inside the Iraqi box. The goal was Jordan’s fourth penalty of the tournament and gave them a precious lead heading into the break.
The second half saw Iraq take control of possession and intensify their pressure. They finished the match with 20 shots and close to 71% of the ball, pushing Jordan’s defensive line to its limit. Despite the sustained pressure, Jordan stayed disciplined, denying Iraq clear scoring opportunities and managing the final stages with composure.
The result sends Jordan to the Arab Cup semifinals for the third time in their history, while eliminating Iraq, a four-time winner of the competition. Jordan will now face Saudi Arabia, who qualified on Thursday after defeating Palestine in extra time.
Read also: Saudi Arabia Defeat Palestine 2–1 After Extra Time to Qualify for the Arab Cup Semifinals
