Abdullah Yusuf scored the only goal of the game on Thursday as Bahrain beat Jordan 1-0 at the Khalifa International Stadium, helping Juan Antonio Pizzi’s side advance to the last 16 of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023. Group E winner Yusuf scored the goal. Bahrain scored their second win in three games 11 minutes before half-time, taking the lead with six points and ahead of South Korea and Jordan, who also qualified. With this result, Bahrain will face four-time champions Japan in the final tournament. The next round will be held at the Al Thumama Stadium, while Jordan will advance as one of the best third-placed teams and face Iraq at the Khalifa International Stadium. “Now we need to rest and prepare to play against Japan, a very strong team,” Bahrain coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said. “But I believe in the players’ abilities and I am confident that we can achieve a good result.” The Jordanians went into the game top of their group, but striker Moussa Al Tamari started on the bench. , Rusanin Amuta made five changes. The team ended in a 2-2 draw with South Korea in their last match. Anas Baniyaseen’s shot in the 14th minute deflected Ebrahim Lutfallah’s goal wide, before Bahrain midfielder Mohamed Maroon’s looping shot was comfortably met by Yazeen Abulaila in the 15th minute. A moment later, a snapshot was fired across the front of the goal. It took until the 34th minute to break the deadlock, which Bahrain did well. Youssuf timed his run from the halfway line perfectly, latched onto Komail Al-Aswad’s pass through the middle and fired a right-footed shot into the bottom corner of Abu Laila’s goal. After 4 minutes, the striker Mlada Boleslav was released. They got behind the Jordan defense again, but while Baniyasheen initially recovered, possession went to Marhoun, who somehow curled a shot over the bar from inside the six-yard box. Ali Madan fired a shot over the bar, and Malhoun’s lofted pass almost went over the top of the Jordan defenders, and was struck by an alert Abralila, who almost sent the ball flying to safety. Jordan rarely threatened and the closest he came was Ali Orwan, who headed in Lutfallah’s goal. With an hour remaining, Abu Laila rose again to deny Yusuf’s free-kick and give Bahrain a point.