Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dushanbe: AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2018 hosts Jordan began their preparations for next year’s finals in superb fashion on Monday as a Maysa Jbarah hat-trick helped the West Asian side record a comfortable 6-0 win over regional rivals Bahrain in Group A of the tournament’s qualifying campaign.
Already assured of qualification, and competing to gain vital playing time and experience ahead of the continental gathering in their own backyard, Jordan began brightly at Dushanbe’s Republican Central Stadium, with captain Stephanie Alnaber forcing a fine save from Bahrain goalkeeper Nouf Al Khalifa after only five minutes.
Bahrain responded through a free-kick from skipper Yasmeen Fayez Tobellah which sailed narrowly wide, before Jordan’s early pressure paid handsome dividends just moment later, midfielder Shahnaz Jebreen breaking the deadlock with a superb strike from outside the penalty area in the tenth minute.
Jbarah then struck the crossbar and flashed a shot wide when well-placed as Jordan, who qualified for the 2014 edition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, continued to dominate proceedings.
The livewire Jbarah was, however to make amends before the break, converting a 22nd minute corner, and then notching her second of the game on the half hour mark.
Bahraini brows were to be furrowed even further on 43 minutes, when Jbarah scrambled the ball home from close range to bag herself a first half hat-trick and her side a seemingly unassailable lead going into the break.
With Bahrain custodian Al Khalifa excelling, Jordan struggled to extend their lead after the break, although Alnaber did come close with a shot from distance that fizzed wide shortly after the hour mark.
Alnaber was not be denied however, the talented 19-year-old making it five for Jordan on 86 minutes with a neat finish, before Luna Almasri rounded off the scoring on the stroke of full-time to cap a distinctly promising Jordanian performance.
Bahrain will now look to bounce back from their defeat when they face qualifying hosts Tajikistan on Wednesday, while Jordan will play the United Arab Emirates.
Jordan head coach Maher Abu Hantash:
“Usually the first match is always tough but we are happy with the result. The game was ours already from the first half and our girls played with medium intensity. The next match will be better. We are happy of course because the match was easy for us and the girls can hopefully do even better in our next match (against the UAE).”
Bahrain head coach Khaled Harban:
“We didn’t expect this result and the weather didn’t help. It was the first game for the girls, they were nervous but they tried their best. Playing on artificial turf made it hard for them. Now we start preparing for our next match (against Tajikistan), we will watch the next game, Iraq verus Tajikistan, take notes, go back to the hotel, talk to the girls and plan for the next game.”