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FIFA Arab Cup
An Ali Olwan brace saw Jordan come from behind to lead but Abderrazzaq Hamdallah’s double meant Morocco broke Jordan’s hearts to lift the trophy, with the pulsating final needing extra time for it to be settled.
The third-place playoff between Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, was abandoned due to inclement weather, with the relevant FIFA committee to decide on the outcome.
The third-place playoff between Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, was abandoned due to inclement weather, with the relevant FIFA committee to decide on the outcome.
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Jordan applied the early pressure on the 2012 champions with Mahmoud Mardi guiding his free-kick right into the gloves of Morocco keeper El Mehdi Benabid.
The balance, however, quickly shifted in Morocco’s favour as they began to press, with Jordan attempting to respond but in doing so, left themselves vulnerable at the back.
The balance, however, quickly shifted in Morocco’s favour as they began to press, with Jordan attempting to respond but in doing so, left themselves vulnerable at the back.
That was punished when Amin Zahzouh pounced on Olwan’s stray pass in the fourth minute and backheeled the ball to Oussama Tannane, who looped his effort over a rooted Yazeed Abulaila and into the back of the net.
Jordan were almost caught again in the 12th minute when a neat exchange between Tannane and Karim El Berkaoui forced Abulaila into a low save.
Jordan were almost caught again in the 12th minute when a neat exchange between Tannane and Karim El Berkaoui forced Abulaila into a low save.
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The West Asian’s three-man defence struggled to contain Morocco’s advances from the flanks and they nearly paid the price again in the 41st minute but Abulaila palmed away Zahzouh’s cross into the box with Tannane seeing his shot off the rebound swept away by Issam Smeeri.
Jordan came back after the break fully recharged and almost equalised a minute in when Mahmoud Al Mardi’s free-kick found Husam Abudahab, who missed from inside a packed box.
Jordan came back after the break fully recharged and almost equalised a minute in when Mahmoud Al Mardi’s free-kick found Husam Abudahab, who missed from inside a packed box.
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Jamal Sellami’s side, however, responded with a stunning strike two minutes later when Mohannad Abutaha whipped a perfect cross for Olwan to send a towering header into the back of the net.
That led to sustained pressure from Jordan and Morocco conceded a penalty following Achraf El Mahdioui’s handball, with Olwan coolly converting in the 68th minute.
That led to sustained pressure from Jordan and Morocco conceded a penalty following Achraf El Mahdioui’s handball, with Olwan coolly converting in the 68th minute.
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A stung Morocco responded by piling forward and drew level in the 88th minute after Abulaila fumbled Mohamed Rabie Hrimat’s headed attempt, allowing substitute Hamdallah to tap the ball home from close range to force the final into an additional 30 minutes.
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Jordan had the ball in the back of the net a minute into extra-time but their joy was short-lived as Mohannad Abutaha’s strike was disallowed following a VAR review.
It turned into despair in the 100th minute as Hamdallah played a neat exchange with Marwane Saadane before finishing off with a simple tap-in from close range to give Morocco the title.
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images
It turned into despair in the 100th minute as Hamdallah played a neat exchange with Marwane Saadane before finishing off with a simple tap-in from close range to give Morocco the title.
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images
