First half goals from Saeed Murjan, Odai Al Saify and Yaseen Bakheet proved the difference as Jordan recorded a 4-1 win over Afghanistan on Tuesday to maintain an unbeaten record in Group C of 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifying.
Murjan’s header broke the deadlock midway through the first half for Jordan at King Abdullah II International Stadium before Al Saify’s close range finish doubled their advantage.
And with Bakheet’s penalty adding a third at the end of the first half, Zubayr Amiri’s second half spot kick for Afghanistan proved to be only consolation for the visitors before Hamza Al Dardour restored the three-goal cushion in the closing stages as Jordan added to their earlier 7-0 home win over Cambodia and goalless draw in Vietnam.
Earlier, Vietnam recorded their first win of the campaign after beating Cambodia 2-1 to leave Jordan two points clear at the top of the table and crucially four clear of third place with three games remaining.
Jordan finally opened the scoring after 24 minutes as Murjan directed a header from Odai Zahran’s cross past Afghanistan goalkeeper Ovays Azizi.
Afghanistan, though, looked to find a response in search of a first win of the campaign as Sharif Mohammad flashed a header just wide from Mustafa Zazai’s free-kick two minutes later.
Afghanistan goalkeeper Azizi, though, remained the busier of the goalkeepers and was forced to block Al Saify’s shot from Mousa Mohammad’s pass into the area 13 minutes before half-time.
But just a minute later Azizi was beaten for a second time as Al Saify was on hand to turn home Al Dardour’s cross from close range.
And there was still time for Jordan to add a third in the last minute of the first half as Bakheet made no mistake from the penalty spot having been fouled by Mustafa Zazai inside the area.
Jordan looked to further extend their lead in the second half and Saeed Murjan fired wide eight minutes after the hour mark.
But Afghanistan set up a potentially nervous final 18 minutes as Milad Intezar was fouled inside the area by goalkeeper Jordan Yazeed Abulaila and Amiri made no mistake from 1-0 yards.
Afghanistan, though, were unable to make further inroads into the deficit and Al Dardour capitalised on a mistake by Masih Saighani with two minutes remaining to seal the win with a chip over exposed goalkeeper Azizi.
