SHEER DRAMA: When Iraq and Jordan delivered this knockout thriller! | AFC Asian Cup 2023 | Classics

Getters underway in this round of 16 clash, AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023. And immediately... ...Hemon Hussain is the target. Jordan will have to cope with a big man who's not only scored goals, but he's led the line wonderfully well for Iraq. The Lions of Mesopotamia, as they are known, looking to try and secure a place in the quarter-finals for the eighth time, and they've got themselves a very, very early corner. Nice and bright and passionate start from Irak. And we've seen already where Jordan have looked dangerous, is when they get it forward quickly. Longer passes, direct balls forward, get it into the attacking areas as quick as you can. Ali Owen. Into the penalty area, looks for the give-and-go, gets a shot in, fine save! Low down to his right by Jalal Hassan. Good save, really good save from Jalal, nice work. Again, gets it forward quickly, Ali Owen this time. Pushes out wide, onto the left, before driving in to link up with Yazan. Iraq will have to be patient in possession. As well defended as well, because the moment it got out to the wider area, he was able to squeeze it. Thrown goal is Owen, and Owen is denied by Jalal. The flag has stayed down. Ali Owen, one on one. Great call. Great call by the assistant referee, because he keeps himself onside here. Good speed to get in behind, it's straight forward from Jordan. How about Jaya? Ali Jassim, first time to the byline, tries a little nutmeg, doesn't come off, because Nizar is attentive. Into the penalty area, Ibrahim Baish. And Ibrahim! Good save. They've just rotated it as well, Baish playing in more of a central area of the pitch now, switching it up with Yousef Amin over the last few minutes or so. That's well. Five in the penalty area. Titanic struggle. Altamari. A bit of head tennis, he's on his own. There's the support. He might not need it, Altamari. What a run from Altamari! Goes round, brilliant save. It's back across the face of the goal by Yazan Al-Neymat. Wow. Absolutely incredible work from Hussein Altamari. But the goalkeeping as well from Jalal Hassan, I mean, he's taken a kick to his face. I think keepers expect that in those situations. Straightforward, ball into Hussein Altamari, he comes across to this left-hand side this time around. You were concerned it might be the cage, it has been in many ways from Jordan. Oh, the pace once again, through one goal, big chance, Yazan! That's take one of their big chances in first-half injury time. Big goal, big moment in this match. Excellent composure. Shown by Yazan Al-Neymat. The exhilaration away from that Iraqi defence. Trying to make sure they get it to half-time with that lead. Ali Alwin, he's had a couple of chances, one one-on-one that was really well saved by Jalal. And when we look at the analysis, the shots on goal will be more in favour of Jordan. Jalal spreads it out wide. Hussein Ali does well, he's got the lead, Everton full-back. Half-time whistle goes. It's a deserved lead for Jordan, they play it on the back foot, hit on the break, use the pace of Moussa Ali Alwin and Yazan Al-Neymat. At half-time it is Jordan 1-0 Iraq. Just going back to the tactical side of it, I think Iraq didn't quite have enough imagination, enough creative element in the central areas to cause a problem for Jordan. Second half underway, Jordan immediately on the attack in the all-red. They are 24 places lower on the FIFA World Rankings. It doesn't look like that. It's always close between these two teams. They had a 2-0 match in a four-man tournament. Only one this year, Yazan has kept that in play. He's played on. A bright start from Jordan, who are in the red. Brevin. Brevin's cross. What a brilliant header by Yazan Al-Neymat going backwards. To the edge of the penalty area. Super save. Second plunging save, and it's the second time Hussain Ali has been denied. Hussain Ali has got to sprint back to get into position, and does well. Dominant defensively in the end, Yazan Al-Neymat. Well positioned to be taken quickly. Jassim. Fabulous save again. That is destined for the top corner. And that's why Yazid is getting the praise to deny Ibrahim. There was a certain inevitability about this equaliser. The pressure was building, building, building. A simple corner, and a simple header. And we are 1-0. Penalties if need be. Jassim doesn't want penalties. No, Jasdowski helps it in. Breaks to Ayman Hussain. Number six of this AFC Asian Cup. Ayman Hussain. Accuracy. This finish is just brilliant. Look at him. Far side of the box. Another cross comes in. Beautiful replay. To show you just how good of a finish this is. From Ayman Hussain. He's on a yellow card, Ayman Hussain. Is he getting yellow carded for his celebration? A second yellow card. Ayman Hussain has scored and been red carded. For the celebration. Jordan did exactly the same celebration after their goal. Ayman Hussain has scored and has picked up a second yellow card. I said it's a controversial moment. Something you want to be discussed. Jordan lucky it was him who was there. And they've got three players over on the far post. There's a chance if they can pull it back. It might break Nizar. In the penalty area. Pierre might have a look. It might break Johansson. They check this, but it looks like Yazan Al Rab has got Jordan into extra time. The advantage was played. They've scored the goal. Jalal Hassan. Oh, he gets down to it well. But can he push it away from the frame of the goal? Instead of back out again? I think the question Iraq will ask here is what about those celebrations again? There's a red card coming out. But it's for somebody on the bench. They were enthusiastic. Let's say everybody was out of the dugout when that equalizer went in from Yazan Al Rab. But it's somebody on the touchline. You just have to love the AFC Asian Cup. You just have to love it. Flag stays down. Ali Alwan. There might even be a chance for a winner. Salah Ratib. There to the box. Nizar Al Rastan. The quality on that finish. From range. What a way. Win this for your country. Beautiful composure. Closing stages of the match. Nice, cool and calm. And the whistle has gone. Pandemonium. Bedlam. For International Stadium. A phenomenal, remarkable, difty, defying ending. Has seen Jordan progress to the quarter-final at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. It's finished at Al-Khalifa International Stadium. Jordan 3, Iraq 2.