On Saturday, the Asian Cup Group E will feature an exciting clash for the top spot, with Jordan facing off against South Korea at Al Thumama Stadium.
Jordan kicked off their campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Malaysia, showcasing an impressive start. Meanwhile, South Korea secured a 3-1 win against Bahrain with two second-half goals from the Tigers of Asia.
The match between Jordan and South Korea is scheduled for 11:30 GMT.
Jordan vs South Korea Match Preview
Jordan’s fourth consecutive appearance in the Asian Cup has commenced on a high note, matching their record victory margin of 5-1 (achieved against Palestine in 2015). This outcome, a resounding 4-0 win over Malaysia, places Jordan at the top of their group, undefeated in their last four Asian Cup group stage matches.
The team, led by coach Hussein Ammouta, seems to have drawn inspiration from Japan, who defeated them 6-1 just days before their Asian Cup opener. Jordan’s four-goal performance in the opening match marks their highest goal tally since March 2023, securing a 4-0 win over the Philippines.
Impressively, Jordan has maintained a clean sheet in their last six group-stage encounters in the Asian Cup. A victory on Saturday would significantly enhance their prospects of advancing to the knockout stage for the second consecutive tournament. Notably, Jordan has a positive history with Qatar in the competition, remaining unbeaten during the 2011 group stage when the tournament was last held there, ultimately reaching the quarter-finals that year. However, the team has not secured back-to-back victories since September 2022 when they triumphed over Oman (1-0) and Syria (2-0).
In contrast, Jurgen Klinsmann, in his coaching debut at the Asian Cup, witnessed his South Korean team secure an opening victory marked by individual brilliance. The victory is a crucial step for South Korea, aiming to end their prolonged Asian Cup title drought dating back to 1960. The team’s solid group stage record, undefeated since 2007, includes eight consecutive wins in Asian Cup group matches.
Klinsmann’s tenure has seen a significant turnaround, with South Korea unbeaten in nine successive matches and securing seven consecutive victories after losing two of his initial three games in charge. The Tigers of Asia have not suffered defeat to an Asian opponent since July 2022, when arch-rivals Japan claimed a 3-0 victory in the East Asian Football Championship.
Jordan vs South Korea Team News
Anas Bani Yaseen, a key player who featured in every minute of Jordan’s 2019 Asian Cup campaign and scored their first goal in that competition, began the current tournament on the bench. However, with Abdallah Nasib sustaining an injury and Mahmoud Al-Mardi getting hurt shortly after scoring his second goal in the opening match, Bani Yaseen might find himself back on the field this weekend.
Yazan Al-Arab marked his Asian Cup debut in the initial match, starting in a back three alongside Salem Al-Ajalin and Nasib. Goalkeeper Yazid Abu Laila had a relatively quiet outing on matchday one, making only three stops to secure a clean sheet, while Al-Mardi and Musa Al-Taamari each scored twice. This propelled Al-Taamari to be tied for seventh in all-time goals with Odai Al-Saify and Baha Faisal, all boasting 15 goals.
For South Korea, Hwang Hee-chan was sidelined in the opening match due to an ongoing left hip injury. Meanwhile, Hwang In-beom marked his 51st career appearance, surpassing the half-century mark for caps in their first game. Lee Jae-sung is just one cap away from reaching 80, while captain Son Heung-min earned his 118th national team cap, standing four appearances behind Yoo Sang-Chul for sixth all-time.
In their opening encounter against Bahrain, South Korea took the lead with a 38th-minute strike from In-beom, and Lee Kang-in contributed a brace to secure the victory. Notably, South Korea is managing well despite the absence of Hwang Hee-chan, showcasing the depth of talent within their squad.
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Predicted Lineup for Jordan vs South Korea
Jordan’s possible starting lineup:
Layla; Yaseen, Al-Arab, Al-Ajalin; Shelbaieh, Ayed, Al-Rawabdeh, Sadeh; Al-Taamari, Olwan; Al-Naimat
South Korea’s possible starting lineup:
Seung-gyu; Young-woo, Jin-su, Ki-je; Kang-in, Woo-yeong, In-beom, Jae-sung; Heung-min, Gue-sung, Hyeon-gyu
Jordan vs South Korea Previous 5 Encounters
From 2008 onward, Jordan and South Korea have faced each other four times, with Jordan failing to secure a victory in any of those encounters. One match between the two teams ended in a draw. These matchups have taken place in various tournaments, including the Asian Games, International Friendly Games, World Cup Qualification, and AFC competitions. The head-to-head record suggests a challenging history for Jordan against the South Korean team, with no wins to their credit and only one instance of the two sides settling for a draw.
- 19 Jul 2004 South Korea 0-0 Jordan AFC Asian Cup
- 31 May 2008 South Korea 2-2 Jordan FIFA World Cup
- 07 Jun 2008 Jordan 0-1 South Korea FIFA World Cup
- 05 Sep 2008 South Korea 1-0 Jordan International Friendly
- 14 Nov 2014 Jordan 0-1 South Korea International Friendly
Jordan vs South Korea: Prediction
Our prediction is a 3-0 victory for South Korea against Jordan. In their five prior encounters, Jordan have never emerged victorious, struggling to find the net in four of those matchups. With ongoing injury issues, it is anticipated that Jordan may face challenges in generating scoring opportunities on Saturday.
The challenging opening match for South Korea is viewed as a wake-up call for the team. The players, eager to reclaim their position atop the Asian podium, are expected to respond strongly and showcase their determination in the upcoming game.
Jordan 0-3 South Korea
Jordan vs South Korea Betting Tips and Odds
- Tip 1: Win South Korea
- Tip 2: Total Over 2.5
- Tip 3 Both teams to score No
- The highest odds on South Korea are currently 1.29 by Bet 365
- The highest odds on the Draw are currently 6.15 by EveryGame
- The highest odds on Jordan are currently 11.0 by 1xBet
Where to watch Jordan vs South Korea
Viewers can catch the Asian Cup exclusively on the CBS Sports Network, which holds the broadcasting rights for the entire 2024 tournament. For those in the UK, Triller TV is the platform to tune in and watch all the matches of the tournament.
In the United States, the Asian Cup can be viewed on Paramount+ and FuboTV, offering American audiences multiple options to enjoy the competition.
In South Korea and Jordan, viewers can watch live telecasts using a VPN service to access any of the above-mentioned platforms from anywhere in the world.
Also Read: AFC Asian Cup 2023: All you need to know, groups, teams, top players and live streaming info