Rapid Reaction: Kyrgyzstan 0:0 Palestine (International Friendly)
Palestine plays out a scoreless draw for the second time in three days against stubborn Central Asian opponent
Palestine Starting XI: Abdelhadi Yassin, Musab Al-Battat (C) (Abada Baroud 80’), Mohammed Saleh, Khalid Abu El Haija, Wajdi Nabhan; Badr Moussa (Mohammed Balah 76’), Hamed Hemdan (Agustín Manzur 60’), Ameed Sawafta (Odai Kharoub 76’), Zaid Qunbar; Khaled Al-Nabris (Moustafa Zeidan 60’), Oday Dabbagh (Francisco Politino 60’)
FULL MATCH
HIGHLIGHTS:
Recap: It was not supposed to be like this. Palestine were supposed to face Tajikistan and India and then were supposed to face Kenya and Kyrgyzstan before they were left playing Kyrgyzstan twice.
Matches against the home team in Bishkek are never a straight forward affair even in low stakes friendlies. Perhaps those involved will look back at this doubleheader as a useful learning experience. It would have been hoped to see more wholesale changes in this match. Robert Prosinecki made ten, Ehab Abu Jazar made five starting Abed Yassin, Wajdi Nabhan, Ameed Sawafta, Badr Moussa, and Khaled Al-Nabris in place of Rami Hamadi, Ahmed Taha, Odai Kharoub, Tamer Seyam, and Agustín Manzur.
There was a change in shape too. Palestine was in a 4-4-2. They also pressed high up and as a result dominated the proceedings of the first half. Badr Moussa could have opened the scoring in the sixth minute after latching on to Khaled Al-Nabris’s pass. Al-Nabris should have at least put his shot on target a minute later after latching on to Musab Al-Battat’s ensuing corner.
On 20 minutes Hamed Hemdan was sprung open thanks to a clever one-two with Zaid Qunbar. The Pyramids FC midfielder culminated his penetrating run with a shot that caught Arten Pryadkin off guard and his flailing arm only slowed its progress towards the net. The reserve goalkeeper was able to turn around and collect the ball on the line just as it seemed it was about to loop in.
Palestine continued to pour forward but only had a couple of wayward shots to show for their effort as the first half petered out.
As in the first match between the two sides, Ehab Abu Jazar decided against make substitutions at half time. Palestine’s best chance of the night fell to Zaid Qunbar ten minutes into the second half but he shot straight at the goalkeeper wasting a perfect cross from captain Musab Al-Battat.
A minute later, Khaled Al-Nabris headed a corner kick delivery straight at the goalkeeper. Ehab Abu Jazar then rang in the subs as did his opposite number and the match devolved into an ugly stalemate.
What I Liked: Khalid Abu El Haija got 120 minutes of action. Abed Yassin made his first start and kept a clean sheet. Hamed Hemdan is a dynamo and this is quickly becoming his midfield. Starting Badr Moussa made us infinitely more dangerous in transition.
What I didn’t Like: Musab Al-Battat was carted off injured and there was really no reason to have him play another 90 minutes. He could and should have been subbed off for Emilio Saba on the hour mark. I also found it slightly peculiar (and this might be down to unreported injuries) that Mohammed Saleh got another start and another 90 minutes of game time. Watching him next to Abu El Haija just accentuates all that he lacks- calmness in possession, passing accuracy, and the ability to carry the ball out of defence without causing fans to die of cardiac arrest.
Stock Up: If you are Adam Kaied or Mohamed Hebous then this was the perfect result for you. Badr Moussa is the only player that can offer something in transition.
Khalid Abu El Haija could become a starter before the Asian Cup which would free Mahajna to play in midfield.
More Changes? Sultan Abu Daken left camp as playing for Palestine would have jeopardized his local player status with Hatta in the UAE Pro League. Francisco Politino was a sub in both matches and Abdulhadi Rashid and Abada Baroud got cameo appearances. I could see all names discarded in future camps in favour of other names as Ehab Abu Jazar looks to build out the rest of his squad.
Scenario Practicing? Once the subs came on it seemed that Palestine was practicing how to defend a result as opposed to looking to build play. Kyrgyzstan had the lion’s share of possession. Palestine threatened in transition a couple of time and then that threat disappeared when Badr Moussa was hauled off with 15 minutes to go. If that was the plan then they passed with the test. That said, it is rather frustrating to see attacking substitutions being made only for them to be starved of the ball.
Fan Reaction: I don’t think drawing with Kyrgyzstan away, in a friendly, without some key players is a bad result. This is a friendly and the most important thing is to learn and build. Palestine would not have gone on a run in the Arab Cup if they didn’t get shellacked by Algeria (A’) and Euskadi in the buildup.
There also has to be a realization that Kyrgyzstan are not cannon fodder but a tough side when playing on their home pitch.
Right on queue there are calls for a foreign manager to be brought in. As if that would be a silver bullet. Abu Jazar is by no means perfect but in a year and a half he solved the problem at left back and rebuilt the midfield around Hamed Hemdan. He capped Khalid Abu El Haija and Emilio Saba future proofing the defence. Now he just has to figure out the complementary pieces in attack. That requires time and testing.
What’s Next: Palestine has no matches planned for the rest of the summer and will likely feature again in late September when the next FIFA matchday rolls around.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Recap: It was not supposed to be like this. Palestine were supposed to face Tajikistan and India and then were supposed to face Kenya and Kyrgyzstan before they were left playing Kyrgyzstan twice.
Matches against the home team in Bishkek are never a straight forward affair even in low stakes friendlies. Perhaps those involved will look back at this doubleheader as a useful learning experience. It would have been hoped to see more wholesale changes in this match. Robert Prosinecki made ten, Ehab Abu Jazar made five starting Abed Yassin, Wajdi Nabhan, Ameed Sawafta, Badr Moussa, and Khaled Al-Nabris in place of Rami Hamadi, Ahmed Taha, Odai Kharoub, Tamer Seyam, and Agustín Manzur.
There was a change in shape too. Palestine was in a 4-4-2. They also pressed high up and as a result dominated the proceedings of the first half. Badr Moussa could have opened the scoring in the sixth minute after latching on to Khaled Al-Nabris’s pass. Al-Nabris should have at least put his shot on target a minute later after latching on to Musab Al-Battat’s ensuing corner.
On 20 minutes Hamed Hemdan was sprung open thanks to a clever one-two with Zaid Qunbar. The Pyramids FC midfielder culminated his penetrating run with a shot that caught Arten Pryadkin off guard and his flailing arm only slowed its progress towards the net. The reserve goalkeeper was able to turn around and collect the ball on the line just as it seemed it was about to loop in.
Palestine continued to pour forward but only had a couple of wayward shots to show for their effort as the first half petered out.
As in the first match between the two sides, Ehab Abu Jazar decided against make substitutions at half time. Palestine’s best chance of the night fell to Zaid Qunbar ten minutes into the second half but he shot straight at the goalkeeper wasting a perfect cross from captain Musab Al-Battat.
A minute later, Khaled Al-Nabris headed a corner kick delivery straight at the goalkeeper. Ehab Abu Jazar then rang in the subs as did his opposite number and the match devolved into an ugly stalemate.
What I Liked: Khalid Abu El Haija got 120 minutes of action. Abed Yassin made his first start and kept a clean sheet. Hamed Hemdan is a dynamo and this is quickly becoming his midfield. Starting Badr Moussa made us infinitely more dangerous in transition.
What I didn’t Like: Musab Al-Battat was carted off injured and there was really no reason to have him play another 90 minutes. He could and should have been subbed off for Emilio Saba on the hour mark. I also found it slightly peculiar (and this might be down to unreported injuries) that Mohammed Saleh got another start and another 90 minutes of game time. Watching him next to Abu El Haija just accentuates all that he lacks- calmness in possession, passing accuracy, and the ability to carry the ball out of defence without causing fans to die of cardiac arrest.
Stock Up: If you are Adam Kaied or Mohamed Hebous then this was the perfect result for you. Badr Moussa is the only player that can offer something in transition.
Khalid Abu El Haija could become a starter before the Asian Cup which would free Mahajna to play in midfield.
More Changes? Sultan Abu Daken left camp as playing for Palestine would have jeopardized his local player status with Hatta in the UAE Pro League. Francisco Politino was a sub in both matches and Abdulhadi Rashid and Abada Baroud got cameo appearances. I could see all names discarded in future camps in favour of other names as Ehab Abu Jazar looks to build out the rest of his squad.
Scenario Practicing? Once the subs came on it seemed that Palestine was practicing how to defend a result as opposed to looking to build play. Kyrgyzstan had the lion’s share of possession. Palestine threatened in transition a couple of time and then that threat disappeared when Badr Moussa was hauled off with 15 minutes to go. If that was the plan then they passed with the test. That said, it is rather frustrating to see attacking substitutions being made only for them to be starved of the ball.
Fan Reaction: I don’t think drawing with Kyrgyzstan away, in a friendly, without some key players is a bad result. This is a friendly and the most important thing is to learn and build. Palestine would not have gone on a run in the Arab Cup if they didn’t get shellacked by Algeria (A’) and Euskadi in the buildup.
There also has to be a realization that Kyrgyzstan are not cannon fodder but a tough side when playing on their home pitch.
Right on queue there are calls for a foreign manager to be brought in. As if that would be a silver bullet. Abu Jazar is by no means perfect but in a year and a half he solved the problem at left back and rebuilt the midfield around Hamed Hemdan. He capped Khalid Abu El Haija and Emilio Saba future proofing the defence. Now he just has to figure out the complementary pieces in attack. That requires time and testing.
What’s Next: Palestine has no matches planned for the rest of the summer and will likely feature again in late September when the next FIFA matchday rolls around.