Amman — Al-Hussein Irbid delivered an impressive performance against Iraq’s Al-Shorta in their match held in Iraq the day before yesterday, as part of the third round of Group D in the AFC Champions League Two. However, the team squandered the chance to take the group lead in the dying moments, settling for a 1-1 draw.
اضافة اعلان
The Iraqi side remained top of the group with seven points, while “The Royal” stayed in second place with five points, continuing to chase the leaders.
Al-Hussein Irbid showed its ability to impose its identity and take the initiative, particularly early in the first half, when the match unfolded largely on the Jordanian side’s terms. However, the team failed to turn its superiority into a victory, allowing its opponent to come back and secure a draw in the final moments.
Al-Hussein Irbid entered the match wearing its alternative white kit and appeared well-organized, with a clear desire to attack first and put pressure on its opponent. It made good use of energetic movement and its ability to reach advanced areas, demonstrating that it had the tools to compete with the Iraqi side, nicknamed “The Cithara,” and impose its style. The team stood out for its shape, tactics, speed and forceful attacking moves.
Al-Hussein imposed its superiority during important periods of the match and created several chances that demonstrated its ability to reach Al-Shorta’s goal. It eventually converted its presence into the opening goal, amid signs that the team was heading toward a positive result that would strengthen its standing and provide an important morale boost. A victory would have allowed it to seize the group lead and move confidently toward securing one of the tournament’s two qualification spots for the round of 16, repeating its achievement from the previous edition, when it reached the quarter-finals of the same continental competition.
However, the picture changed in the second half, as Al-Hussein retreated into its own half and left spaces for its opponent to advance, press and move freely. This allowed Al-Shorta to keep goalkeeper Al-Kawamleh under sustained threat, rather than the Royal players approaching the game with the same boldness they had shown at the start.
This highlighted a problem in managing a lead. Preserving the result did not require abandoning the initiative; instead, it called for a better balance between defensive and attacking responsibilities, retaining possession and exploiting the spaces left by the Iraqi team as it pushed forward.
As time passed, the Iraqi pressure increased, and Al-Hussein was required to deal with dangerous balls carefully and remain focused. However, its retreat gave Al-Shorta the opportunity to continue attacking until the final moments. The equalizer came in the fifth minute of stoppage time from a penalty, after defender Ahmad Assaf recklessly rushed toward Iraqi substitute Abdullah Bassem. Bako converted the penalty to level the score, shattering a victory that had seemed within the Royal’s grasp.
The draw does not erase Al-Hussein’s good performance and clear spells of superiority, but it raises several questions for the coaching staff about managing the closing minutes, maintaining concentration and attacking intent, and preventing opponents from recovering when victory is within reach.
Abdullah Naseeb deserved to be named man of the match and Al-Hussein Irbid’s best player. He delivered a defensive performance marked by commitment and resilience, intervening on several occasions to clear dangerous Iraqi attempts and helping maintain the back line’s solidity under Al-Shorta’s pressure.
Naseeb’s impact was not limited to his defensive duties. He also contributed to putting his team ahead, combining an influential defensive presence with effectiveness in attack. His performance underlined his value to the Royal’s lineup, despite the team’s failure to secure victory in the final seconds.
By Mustafa Ballo
