Musa Al Taamari’s sixth goal of the 2018 AFC Cup fired Al Jazeera into the West Asia Zonal Final with a 2-1 aggregate win over fellow Jordanian side Al Faisaly on Monday.
Having come into the home leg with the away goal advantage after drawing 1-1 in the reverse fixture, Al Faisaly looked to get an early goal to move into a comfortable position. Alban Meha tried his luck from distance, but his effort was saved by Al Jazeera goalkeeper Ahmad Nawwas halfway through the first half.
Al Faisaly had a golden chance to take the lead five minutes before the end of the first half, when Polish striker Lukasz Gikiewicz was shackled by defender Zaid Jaber inside the box. Gikiewicz stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick himself but saw his attempt saved by Nawwas as the first half ended goalless.
Al Taamari started the second half with a bang, embarking on a solo run down the middle, before exchanging a one-two with Abdullah Al Attar, receiving the return pass inside the box and firing into the bottom corner of the net to break the deadlock six minutes into the restart.
Al Jazeera nearly doubled their lead in the 76th minute, when Odai Al Jafal beat goalkeeper Moataz Yaseen from a free-kick, but the visitors were denied their second of the night by the post.
Coach Chiheb Ellili’s men await the winners between Iraq’s Air Force Club and Lebanon’s Al Ahed in the Zonal Final in September.
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