FIFA Arab Cup: Late shock for Qatar as Palestine snatch three points in opener

Sudesh Baniya in Al Bayt Stadium

DOHA: Palestine pulled off a historic win over Qatar at the FIFA Arab Cup opener on Monday, registering their first win in over two decades against the tournament hosts.

Following a physical clash that saw numerous chances go begging at both ends, Sultan Al-Brake’s own goal in the dying minutes proved to be decisive at the Al Bayt Stadium in front of more than 61,000 in attendance.

It marked a second upset on the opening day as relative minnows Syria managed to sneak a 1-0 win over Tunisia earlier at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, putting Group A’s odds at bay.

Lack of creativity and efficiency inside the box was to be blamed for Qatar, as the side failed to convert possession into chances in front of a Palestinian side that refused to budge.

Al Annabi had the first of the night’s chances when Ahmed Fathy met Akram Afif’s corner at the far post, but failed to keep it on target.

Eight minutes later, the midfielder’s header met the same fate at the near post, off a corner that Qatar were awarded as Mohammed Mannai’s shot flew wide after a deflection.

That sequence spoke of Qatar’s first-half struggles. With talismanic Akram Afif and the front line largely kept at bay by a gritty Palestinian rearguard, most of Al Annabi’s chances on goal came from its defensive guard.

Instead, Palestine managed to sneak an opportunity at the other end against the run of play. Qatar’s illustrious left-back, Al-Brake, was lucky not to have put Wajdi Nabhan’s cross inside his own net in the 14th minute.

It was Assim Madibo, Fathy’s defensive midfield partner, who failed to hit the target next, six minutes before he was taken off for Issa Laye due to an injury.

Five minutes from the first half, Lucas Mendes had his shot on goal — Qatar’s first on target — from a distance, but it did little to trouble Rami Hamada between the sticks.

To Lopetegui’s credit, changes in the second half opened the game up. Edmilson Junior had a shot on goal eight minutes after coming on at half time, forcing a low save off Hamada, not soon after Al-Brake became the latest to miss the target.

While the change made up for better movements and more of Afif’s involvement on the ball, the final pass never arrived in the box for Qatar. The Palestinian defence stood happy, continuing to thwart with one clearance after the other. In the middle of the pitch, the Palestinian side panned out as Lopetegui had described them before the match: physically and tactically demanding.

In a complete shuffle of the now-front three, the former Spain boss then threw experienced campaigner Mohammed Muntari and Al Sailiya forward Khalid Ali Sabah into the mix at the stroke of the hour mark.

But Qatar’s commitment upfront, conversely, also allowed Palestine to hit on the counter. Ehab Abu Jazar’s charges, who had managed just one shot in the entirety of the first 45 minutes, seemed to be enjoying the spaces.

Oday Dabbagh missed the target from a tight angle after doing well to catch Qatar’s Fathy off guard in Qatar’s box, following a sequence that started with Palestine dispossessing a galloping and now more involved Afif at the other end.

More chances fell for the Fida’i, who had made four changes by now, but they were wasteful too. Ahmad Al-Qaq’s shot went begging over the crossbar despite arriving in space to meet Zaid Qunbar’s lay-off. It was Qunbar who failed to meet Nabhan’s cross seven minutes after.

Yet, Palestine’s calling came in the dying minutes of the physical encounter as Al-Brake’s luck ran out and an attempted clearance ended up past Mahmoud Abunada’s reach to hand Palestine a historic win. The final whistle went off just moments later, handing the Fida’i what was only their second win against Qatar ever.