That Ras to play AFC Cup champs in Round of 16

AMMAN –– The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has set the schedule for Round of 16 matches of the AFC Cup 2014.

Jordan’s That Ras will play holders Kuwait’s Qadissieh on May 13. The Jordan Cup holders moved to the Round of 16 after finishing second in Group A. They held Oman’s Suweiq 0-0 in their last match. 

In their Group A matches, That Ras held group leaders Lebanon’s Safaa 0-0 and lost 1-0, beat Tajikistan’s Ravshan 5-1 and 3-2, scored a 1-0 win over Oman’s Suweiq.

Jordan’s other representative, Shabab Urdun, bowed out of the first round after finishing third in Group D. The team’s inconsistent form in the league has reflected on matches in the Asian scene as well.

They lost 3-2 and 3-1 to group leaders Iraq’s Erbil. Their wins came over last-placed Kyrgyzstan’s Alay Osh, 1-0 and 2-1. They also lost 2-0 to Bahrain’s Rifaa and beat them 3-1 in the last match.

That Ras, a virtually unknown team to the sports scene in Jordan up till less than nine years ago, are now fighting for third place in the local league behind Wihdat and Faisali. 

That Ras beat Wihdat and Faisali 2-0 in the league, and Wihdat 1-0 in the Jordan Cup. 

Coach Ahmad Abdul Qader noted his team was aiming to advance further in the AFC Cup. 

“We have had a good season thanks to the club management, fans and the relentless efforts of the squad,” he said.

The 11th edition of the AFC Cup included 32 clubs from across the continent competing in eight groups with the top two in each group going on to the Round of 16 which will see Lebanon’s Safaa vs. Bahrain’s Al Hidd, Kuwait SC vs. Bahrain’s Al Riffa, Iraq’s Erbil vs. Lebanon’s Nijmeh, Indonesia’s Persipura Jayapura vs. Myanmar’s Yangon United, Vietnam’s The Vissai Ninh Binh  vs. India’s Churchill Brothers SC, Vietnam’s Ha Noi TT  vs. Myanmar’s Nay Pyi Taw and Hong Kong’s Kitchee vs.  Indonesia’s Arema ISL.