Saudi Arabia out of Asian Cup after loss to Jordan

Published: Jan 13, 2011, 8:15 a.m. MST

Saudi Arabia's player Taiseer Al Jassam, top, fight for the ball with Jordan's player Shadi Abu Hashhash during their AFC Asian Cup group B soccer match at Al Rayyan Stadium, in Doha, Qatar, Thursday Jan. 13, 2011. Kin Cheung, Associated Press

DOHA, Qatar — Three-time champion Saudi Arabia made a humiliating exit from the Asian Cup on Thursday after losing to Jordan 1-0 in its second Group B match.

The Saudis fired coach Jose Peseiro following the opening loss to Syria, but bringing in Nasser al-Johar for his fifth stint in charge failed to turn things around.

Despite dominating the first half, Saudi Arabia went behind in the 42nd minute when goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah allowed Baha' Abdelrahman's deep cross from the left to float over his head and into the corner of the net.

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Substitute Nassir Alshamrani had a good chance to equalize for the Saudis in the 76th when he was clean through, but Jordan goalkeeper Amer Shafi was out quickly to smother the shot.

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