Asian Cup 2015: Jordan beat Palestine 5-1, as Hamza Aldaradreh bags four goals

HE was $101 to win the golden boot and benched for Jordan’s first game, but Hamza Al Daradreh is officially the hottest striker at the Asian Cup.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 16: Hamza Al Dardour of Jordan celebrates after he scored his third goal of the match during the 2015 Asian Cup match between Palestine and Jordan at AAMI Park on January 16, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

HE was $101 to win the golden boot and benched for Jordan’s first game, but Hamza Al Daradreh is officially the hottest striker at the Asian Cup.

A lightning 45-minute blitz led to a four-goal rampage, as Hamza single-handedly dismantled Palestine with speed, trickery and bravery.

He was the difference in the 5-1 win over Palestine in front of 10,808 at AAMI Park, that leaves Jordan with an intriguing final game against Japan in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Hamza Al Dardour scored four goals as Jordan smashed Palestine.

Celebrated almost as loud was Palestine’s solitary but historic 85th minute goal, a well taken Jaka Hbaisha volley.

Unfortunately Hamza’s lightning pace tore Palestine’s defence apart, as he netted two either side of the break to overtake UAE striker Ali Mabkhout atop the scorers’ charts.

Hamza, 23, may not have played if not for Ahmed Hayel’s botched drugs test, which saw the striker suffer “hypothermia”.

After benching Hamza, whose TAB golden boot odds ($101) couldn’t have been longer, Jordan coach Ray Wilkins has a headache after claiming Hayel’s set to return.

“I said to the guys when we set off on this journey that we’ll need everybody, and he (Hamza) was probably third choice (striker),’’ Wilkins said.

“You have to bide your chance. But Hamza has blistering pace and now he’s given me a horrible headache that I’ve got to sort out.’’

Security pull down a free Palestine banner during the game.

Hamza, who is on loan to Saudis Al-Khaleej from Jordanians Al-Ramtha, credited former coach Adnan Hamad from shifting him from wing to striker.

He said his team will draw inspiration from their World Cup qualifying win over Japan in March 2013 ahead of their crucial clash.

“Nothing is impossible, Japan is big team, but we can beat them and qualify,’’ Hamza said.

“We beat them in World Cup qualifiers so we can do it. This will be a final for us.

“It feels great, really fortunate to score a super hat-trick. ‘’

Palestine were committed but lacked the quality to really compete.

Yousef Ahmad Mohammad opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a nice curling strike before the Hamza show started two minutes later.

He ghosted in at the back post to courageously tap in Abdallah Deeb’s cross, knowing his momentum would see him smash into the post.

Hamza returned to the pitch after treatment, and soon tapped in Odai Al Saify’s cross seconds before the half-time whistle sounded.

Palestine came out strong but they had no answer for Hamza’s speed, as he burst clear of Jordan’s defence in the 76th minute to complete his hat-trick.

Jordan celebrate a massive victory.

Four minutes later Hamza tapped in his fourth from Oday Zahran’s cross, before he received a standing ovation as Wilkins withdrew him.

But the loudest cheer came just after the sub, when Hbaisha volleyed home a tough chance with five minutes to spare.

It triggered a late Palestine flurry, but they couldn’t add to their score.

2015 Asian Cup — Group D

PALESTINE 1 (Hbaisha 85) JORDAN 5 (Yousef 33, Hamza 35, 45+2, 75, 80)

Crowd: 10,808 at AAMI Park

Referee: Kim Jong Hyeok (KOR)

Red cards: Nil

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Jordan beat Palestine 5-1, as Hamza Aldaradreh bags four goals