Jordan end Tajikistan fairytale to reach first Asian Cup semi-final

In a cagey quarter-final, a deflected second-half own goal was just about enough to see Jordan reach the last four for the first time. It was tough on charismatic Croatian coach Petar Segrt and his Tajikistan team, who were the lowest-ranked side left in Qatar and won plenty of new friends in their first Asian Cup.

But it was a piece of history for Jordan under their Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta, the country having been defeated in their previous quarter-finals in 2004 and 2011.

"We were rewarded for our efforts and our ambitions are getting bigger and bigger," said defender Yazan Al-Arab, who was named man of the match.

"This was history. We are into the semi-finals and we rely on our fans to keep supporting us no matter who we play. We need now to forget the Tajikistan match and concentrate on the semi-finals and our dream of final."