Rapid Reaction: Qatar 0:1 Palestine (2025 FIFA Arab Cup)
Palestine spring second half surprise and strike at the death to take control of Group A
Palestine Starting XI: Rami Hamadi, Musab Al-Battat (C), Michel Termanini, Mohammed Saleh, Wajdi Nabhan; Hamed Hemdan (Odai Kharoub 89’), Amid Mahajna (Ahmad Al-Qaq 74’); Tamer Seyam (Khaled Al-Nabris 74’) , Moustafa Zeidan (Oday Dabbagh 59’), Emilio Saba (Ameed Sawafta 60’), Zaid Qunbar.
Goals: Sultan Al-Brake (OG) 90+5’
Yellow Cards: Hamed Hemdan 44’
HIGHLIGHTS:
OPENING CEREMONY
Recap: A lot was said about the FIFA Arab Cup in the days leading up to today’s opener but Palestine got hardly a mention. The pundits on Alkass and beIN Sports pontificated about the chances of the World Cup perennials in the tournament and engaged in endless debate about whether the Arabs of Asia or the Arabs of Africa produced better national teams.
When Palestine was mentioned it was only to state that they were Qatar’s presumed cannon fodder for the opening match. Those in an official capacity expressed support for Palestine and went so far as to draft Nazarene Rola Azar to perform at the opening ceremony. Unlike matches involving Palestine during AFC competitions there was no moment of silence for victims of the genocide before kickoff. The gleaming bald head of Gianni Infantino in Al-Bayt Stadium and the tournament’s FIFA status provided clues as to why that was the case.
On the pitch, Ehab Abu Jazar and Julen Lopetegui were left to field respectable sides but ones that were significantly different compared to the teams that featured for Palestine in Qatar in their last World Cup qualifiers.
Qatar were expected to wear Palestine out with their possession based football but had a tough time getting things going in the first half. Palestine pushed and pressed and cut off Akram Afif’s supply lines. That meant the Al-Sadd maestro had to shift from left to right, and further down to find the ball.
Throughout the match, Qatar looked far more dangerous when he was on the ball. In the 18th minute, Afif was adjudged to have fouled Hamed Hemdan just before attempting an audacious chip. The ball sailed wide and the whistle sounded. It represented the most danger either side produced in the first half.
ًWhile Palestine were defensively disciplined but they struggled to transition with purpose. A pair of wayward crosses from both Palestine and Qatar at the end of the first half would make a highlight reel due to the sheer lack of chances.
With the game on the line and time running out, Julen Logetegui was quick to make halftime adjustments. Midfield lynchpin Assim Madibo had to be withdrawn on the hour mark with injury and Edmilison Junior was trotted on later in place of the ineffective Mohammed Almanai.
A low cross from the left side in the 50th minute from the Brazilian born attacker seemed destined to be bundled into the net but Palestine captain Musab Al-Battat quickly covered ground and cleared the danger.
A minute later Afif teed up Edmilson with a spectacular pass but Rami Hamadi came off his line and dribbled away to safety. Replays showed that there was a hint of offsides but Palestine’s guardian rendered that discussion moot.
With Qatar in the ascendancy, Abu Jazar went to his bench and introduced the mother of all trump cards; Oday Dabbagh had scored on this very ground against this very opponent 23 months ago. His introduction alongside that of Ameed Sawafta helped turn the tide of the game.
On 65 minutes, Palestine’s corner kick delivery produced a tame shot on goal- but a shot on goal nonetheless. Moments later, Akram Afif went to ground in the area trying to win a penalty kick. A sliding tackle from Michel Termanini bolstered his case but the VAR officials- none of whom were from the AFC- conversed with Glenn Nyberg and the decision stood. No penalty.
Four minutes later, Oday Dabbagh dropped Ahmed Fathy like a sack of concrete and forayed into the box from the right flank. In spite of the tight angle, a striker of his quality should have finished- or at least forced a save. Neither transpired and perhaps the 20,000 km of travel logged in the past two weeks- including a round trip journey to Johannesburg in between the play-in match and opener had something to do with that.
Another double substitution with a quarter of an hour to go proved to be another masterstroke from Abu Jazar. Ahmad Al-Qaq replaced Tamer Seyam and a gamble was made to throw on forward Khaled Al-Nabris in place of holding midfielder Amid Mahajneh who had to depart due to injury.
Hamadi had to make one save in the final stanza but the rest of the chances fell to his teammates in white. Al-Qaq’s darting run into the box came just as Zaid Qunbar headed Hamdan’s ball across the face of goal. Lucas Mendes’s recovery did just enough to hurry the shot from the 23 year old who met the ball at too high of a trajectory and skied it with only the Abu Neda to beat.
Later it was Qunbar who spurn a chance in front of goal with Nabhan’s pinpoint cross arriving on his knee cap and bouncing wide. Khaled Nabris would have a pop in the 86th minute from inside to box only to see his shot blocked by a Qatari defender.
With the fourth official signalling five minutes of added time the game script was already written. Palestine battle valiantly to a grim scoreless draw. The chances that went begging would not be mentioned and Al-Fida’i would depart Al-Bayt Stadium with a patronizing tap on the head from the rest of the Arab footballing world.
Well if that was the script, then Abu Jazar and his charges had missed the rehearsals. A late corner delivered by Ahmed Al-Qaq from the left was punched to safety only for Oday Dabbagh to pick it up and quickly head it towards Al-Nabris. That chance was again partially cleared but only as far as Wajdi Nabhan who quickly pushed it to the unmarked Al-Qaq who put in the best cross of the night. The much malighed Mohammed Saleh made contact and headed it across the face of goal. A panicked Sultan Al-Brake turned it into his own net with Al-Nabris and Dabbagh breathing down his neck.
No flags were raised, no time was left, and Palestine were left to celebrate in an empty Al-Bayt stadium as Qatari supporters left despondent.
What I Liked: The mentality. Palestine were not in this for a kick about or a pat on the back. They were here to win. Too many times Palestine have been happy to leave with some kind words. Rarely have those kind words actually engendered any actual respect.
This game was ugly and gritty when it needed to be but this was no smash and grab. Rami Hamadi earned his 30th clean sheet in 61 official caps but he did not make an array of spectacular saves. Qatar’s attacking prowess was snuffed out and for all their problems in qualification the team scored plenty of goals.
Palestine have sent a message. We are here to win.
What I didn’t Like: Injuries are a part of the game but Amid Mahajna and Hamed Hemdan limping off- the latter had an icepack on his knee- is cause for concern.
Man of the Match: It has to be Mohammed Saleh the man who came to be known as Araby Maguire is now charting his very own Maguire-like redemption arc. Ten days ago he was not even part of the team but here he is scoring audacious penalties and getting his head on every single aerial ball.
Coaching: Speaking of redemption. The knives were out for Ehab Abu Jazar following a 1-0 friendly loss to Malaysia and a 3-0 destruction by Algeria’s B team. When the real matches rolled around he was ready. This is now his third victory (his fourth if you count the Libya match) in six competitive fixtures.
He made bold choices in rebuilding the team this year and he has been duly vindicated.
Elsewhere in Group A: Syria also sprung a surprise on Tunisia courtesy of an Omar Kharbin free kick to win 1-0.
What’s Next: Palestine will take on Tunisia on Thursday December 4th at the Lusail Stadium- site of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup finals. Kickoff is set for 15:30