Jordan play S Arabia in Youth Arab Cup

Jordan’s U-19 football team play Saudi Arabia as Kuwait play Sudan today on the opening day of the 2nd Arab Youth Cup which kicks off at the Amman International Stadium. The July 4-18 event brings together 12 teams in three groups, with the top team from each group moving to the semis. Group A: Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Kuwait and Jordan. Group B: Algeria, Libya, Qatar and the UAE. Group C: Morocco, Tunisia, Iraq and Syria. Jordan played 12 friendly matches in preparation, the last beating Qatar 3-1 and tying the Palestine Olympic team 0-0. They also hosted Syria losing 3-1 before making up for the defeat and winning the second encounter 1-0. Head coach Jamal Abu Abed was quoted in Al Ghad daily as saying the team had progressively improved and would play for the title. “Despite the win over Qatar, we lost over 13 scoring chances. That is our major shortcoming.” Abu Abed acknowldged Group A was tough and that he would have wanted more friendlies abroad. “We will try to come out of the event with a positive result, which is a vital stepping stone as we prepare for the U-19 Asian Youth Championship” due for the UAE November 4-17. Jordan will play in Group C with holders North Korea, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. “Our ultimate aim is to be in top form for the Asian Championship and qualify to the Youth World Cup.” For that purpose, the team is scheduled to have a training camp in August and host a friendly tournament in Amman. Jordan moved to the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship final as the best third-placed team. It is the fourth time Jordan qualifies to the Asian Youth Championship finals. In 2006, the team scored the Kingdom’s biggest sporting success and made Asian and world football headlines when they qualified to the 2007 FIFA Youth World Cup after finishing at the Asian Youth Championship. The AFC U-19 Championship draw put the 16 competing team in four groups based on their 2010 competition rank. The top two from each group will move to the quarters. Hosts, the UAE, who were crowned champs in 2008 are in Group A while titleholders North Korea, who ousted Australia, are in Group C with Jordan. The top four in the championship will qualify to the 2013 Youth World Cup in Turkey. Group A: Japan, Iran, Kuwait and the UAE. Group B: South Korea, China, Thailand and Iraq. Group C: North Korea, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Jordan. Group D: Australia, Saudia Arabia, Syria and Qatar.