Palestine Battles to Reach Round of 16 at AFC Asian Cup

January 19, 2024 Articles, Features, Videos
Palestinian national team. (Image: Palestine Chronicle)

By Sammy Baroud

Following an unfortunate 4-1 loss to Iran on January 14, Palestine locked in on matchday 2 as they took on Arab rivals, the UAE.

The AFC Asian Cup is underway and is two matchdays into the quadrennial tournament. The Palestine national team is, arguably, at their best condition in years, with talents like Oday Dabbagh getting to showcase his skills on Asia’s biggest stage. 

Following an unfortunate 4-1 loss to Iran on January 14, Palestine locked in on matchday 2 as they took on Arab rivals, the UAE.

UAE opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a header from Sultan Adill Alamiri. This goal, however, is essentially the only great UAE moment of the match.

Bad Luck, and Eisa 

Palestine, on the other hand, bolstered 65 percent possession throughout the match, and had the majority of the chances that came throughout the game. A penalty won from Dabbagh being fouled, was taken by Seyam and saved by the talented Emirati keeper, Khalid Eisa. 

Eisa truly was the only player on the Emirate side that stood between Palestine and a decisive victory. The scoreline was leveled in the 50th minute via an own goal by Emirati Bader Nasser, from a cross by Tamer Seyam. 

Seyam also nearly finished a goal in minute 45+3, just before halftime, but once again was blocked by the magic touch of Eisa. 

Dabbagh also had headed the ball just over the crossbar on more than one occasion. Palestine had the chances to win, but a combination of bad luck and Eisa prevented them from doing so.  

What This Means 

With Iran leading Group C after a win over Hong Kong today, and Palestine coming up against Hong Kong on Tuesday, January 23, there is still time for Palestine to secure a spot in the Round of 16. 

The most ideal scenario is one where Palestine claims a decisive victory over Hong Kong on Tuesday, and Iran beats the UAE with a decisive scoreline as well. 

This would bring Palestine level on points with the UAE while bringing Al Fidai’i – the freedom fighters – ahead on goal difference. 

The nature of the Asian Cup does allow several 3rd place finishers to go through, however it wouldn’t be the best scenario for Palestine to barely get by on the final matchday. 

More than a Game 

Our national football heroes continue to strive on the football pitch for Asian football glory, while their people are fighting a legendary battle against an Israeli genocide in Gaza. 

For Palestinians, football is not just about sports. It is about persistence, collective identity and hope. 

The resilience of the Palestinian people can be seen through every minute of a 90 minutes of football, and hopefully the ‘Lions of Canaan’ can make their country and their people proud on the international stage. 

At a time where the people of Gaza have beaten the odds by resisting, in fact beating the well-equipped and massive Israeli army, football fans around the globe hope that the Palestine National Football team can do the same. 

(Correction: A previous version of this article indicated that Palestine had 66 percent possession throughout the game. The accurate number is 65 percent.) 

(The Palestine Chronicle) 

– Sammy Baroud is a young Palestinian-American Sports Writer and an aspiring footballer. He contributed this article to the Palestine Chronicle. Follow him @sammybaroud

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