Jordan has broken into the final four of the final week for the first time in history with a narrow 1-0 win over Tajiks in the recently concluded Asian Cup last eight.
In response to Tajik's onslaught, Jordan continued to stick to its classic 4-4-2 formation, which not only solidified the tempo of possession but also created a number of threatening chances.
Recall that Jordan had a 2-2 draw with South Korea in the group stage, and based on that, I presume that they will adopt a similar tight defensive strategy in today's match to block South Korea's attacking space. Expect Jordan to launch counterattacks on the wings, and it will be crucial for Ayla Madi to be able to counter South Korea's double center backs in the middle of the field and maintain possession.
South Korea experienced a dramatic comeback in the last eight, with Hwang Hee-chan equalizing from the penalty spot in stoppage time and Son sealing the win with a brilliant free kick in extra time to beat Australia 2-1 and advance to the last four.
Although Korea failed to press their opponents effectively in the first half of the match, there seemed to be a lack of space and intensity between players when they dominated possession. Despite the eventual win, Australia also missed several good scoring opportunities.
I expect South Korea to get more time on the ball in today's match than they did in the group stage, but they will have to be wary of Jordan's quick counter-attacks. Kim Min-Ja's suspension will undoubtedly be a blow to the Korean team, and the player who replaces him will have the key task of stopping the Jordanian midfielders from creating chances.
