[ASIAN CUP] Korea fortunate to grab point after subpar performance vs. Jordan

Lee Kang-in of Korea, center, battles Salem Al-Ajalin of Jordan for the ball during the teams' Group E match at the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Jan. 20. Yonhap

It took a late equalizer by their opponent for Korea to come away with a point at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in Qatar on Saturday — a lucky point for a team that didn't really deserve it.

Korea, ranked 23rd, eked out a 2-2 draw against world No. 87 Jordan in their second group stage match at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha. The Taegeuk Warriors were unable to stay in front after captain Son Heung-min converted his own penalty in the ninth minute. An own goal by midfielder Park Yong-woo in the 37th minute leveled the score, with Park getting in front of Yazan Al-Arab to try to clear away a corner, only to head the ball into his own net.

Yazan Al-Naimat's right-footed shot gave Jordan a 2-1 lead during first-half stoppage time. As fate would have it, it was Al-Arab's own goal in the early moments of second-half stoppage time that made the score 2-2.

Jordan stayed in first place in Group E with four points. Korea have the same point total but trail them in goal difference, +4 to +2.

Son said after the match his team was "fortunate" to come away with the draw. Indeed, Korea were badly outplayed for most of the first half, as their defense was often left scrambling and looking flustered against physical and speedy opposing attackers.

Yazan Al-Naimat of Jordan, right, scores against Korea during the teams' Group E match at the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Jan. 20. Yonhap

Korea regained their edge in ball possession in the second half but weren't nearly clinical enough in the box.

Starting forward Cho Gue-sung frittered away some good looks, none more frustrating than the volley he bounced over the net soon after Al-Naimat's go-ahead goal late in the first half.

And after grabbing a brace to key Korea's 3-1 win over Bahrain on Monday, Lee Kang-in wasn't nearly as sharp or dynamic against Jordan. Statistically, he was the best dribbler of the tournament for Matchday One, but he could barely keep the ball at his feet for most of Saturday. His shots off some promising opportunities ended up going right to goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila.

Son had a bit of personal redemption with his successful penalty, after he looked off-kilter against Bahrain. But Son failed to do much else the rest of the match.

Korean players walk off the field at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha following a 2-2 draw with Jordan in the teams' Group E match at the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup, Jan. 20. Yonhap

Korea will close out the group stage against Malaysia, world No. 130, on Thursday. On paper, it should be a breezy match for Korea. But then they were also the heavy favorites against Jordan, and the on-paper superiority didn't translate to a win Saturday night.

In the group stage, the first tiebreaker is the head-to-head record, followed by the goal difference. If Korea and Jordan finish with the same point total, they will go to the goal difference because of Saturday's draw.

Jordan have a two-goal edge in that category, and that means Korea, in order to win Group E, must score as many goals against Malaysia as possible and hope for the best.

On the other hand, if Bahrain beat both Malaysia later Saturday and then Jordan on Thursday, Bahrain will finish with six points, likely good for second place behind Korea, assuming Korea will handle Malaysia and end with seven points.

However, with their top offensive weapons not looking sharp and another, Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers, still on the sidelines with an injury, expecting a goal barrage from Korea may be a tad unrealistic at this point. (Yonhap)