As of today, Jordan is the first team ever to reach the final of the Asian Cup, with a chance to win their first ever trophy. However, before they can do so, they will have to overcome the obstacle of Qatar, who have the advantage of home ground, which will undoubtedly add to the obstacles on the way to the championship.
The Qataris seem to have had a smooth ride. In the journey to the final, only the battle with Iran seems to be a bit tough, other opponents do not pose too much of a threat. Whether the players will be able to play in the face of adversity is still unknown.
By all accounts, Jordan have a 40% chance of winning the match and are expected to replicate their 2-0 victory against South Korea or beat Qatar by a 1-0 scoreline.
It is worth mentioning that the final will incorporate elements of Chinese soccer. The AFC officially announced that Ma Ning will be in charge of the whistle for the Asian Cup final, while Fu Ming will be the VAR referee, and Zhou Fei and Zhang Miao will be the assistant referees respectively. This is also the first time that a Chinese referee will make an appearance in an Asian Cup final.
According to statistics, Manning has excelled in his three stints as a referee, including one group stage match, one 1/8th final and one quarterfinal. Considering the Chinese national soccer team's early exit from the tournament, it seems reasonable that Manning would be favored by the AFC once again.
