Jordan host Oman in World Cup qualifier
18-06-2013 10:12 AM
Ammon News - by Aline Bannayan
AMMAN (The Jordan Times) – Jordan host Oman on Tuesday in their final Round 4, FIFA World Cup Group B Asian qualifier.
Jordan is now fourth in the group after losing 4-0 to Australia in Melbourne last week. The defeat complicated their chances of advancing to their first ever World Cup.
However, there is a chance remaining as Jordan will need a victory over third-placed Oman in their final qualifier and for other results to go their way to keep their hopes alive for reaching the World Cup.
The top two teams in each group qualify for the 2014 finals directly, with the two third-placed teams playing for a chance to qualify via an intercontinental qualifying tie.
FIFA Asia VP HRH Prince Ali, who heads the Jordan Football Association, met players after practice and urged them to put their past behind and focus on winning and moving on to the play-off round which leads to the World Cup.
Head coach Adnan Hamad has been working to shift the players focus from the defeat to winning the Oman match.
Japan clinched the first spot from the group and lead Group B with 17 points, followed by Australia (10), Oman (9), Jordan (7) and Iraq (5).
The Kingdom joined the continent’s top 10 qualifying teams in the final qualifying Round 4 for the first time since taking part in the qualifiers back in 1985.
So far in the qualifiers, Jordan drew 1-1 with Iraq, beat Australia 2-1 before losing 2-1 to Oman and 1-0 to Iraq. They lost 6-0 to Japan and beat them 2-1 in their return leg.
South Korea lead Group A, followed by Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Lebanon.