A fantastic run in the Arab Cup for Palestine’s U20 team has come to an end following a 5-0 loss to hosts and holders Saudi Arabia earlier today.
A penalty kick shootout win over Jordan over the weekend gave Al-Fida’i the right to contest the semifinal. The best finish for a team that had never proceeded past he the group stage at the tournament in three previous tries.
The lopsided scoreline will gloss over several positive factors. Palestine were in this game and in the ascendancy when Saudi Arabia opened the scoring through a corner kick. Moments before that Palestine had the best chance of the game only to see Monir Al-Badarin’s effort go straight at the Saudi goalkeeper.
Striker Mohammed Shaltaf then had chances either side of Saudi Arabia’s opening goal but fluffed his line leaving many to wonder how different things might have been if the team’s captain- Khaled Al-Nabris had been released by Ismaily. An individual error by Amr Rezq allowed Abdullah Radif to double the scoreline before halftime.
Palestine made a slew of attacking substitutions in the first half of the second period but were undone again by a Saudi set piece with Abdullah Radif sweeping home after the freekick hit the post.
A fourth came moments later as Palestine botched the offside trap. Palestine kept pouring forward but couldn’t find a consolation goal. They conceded a fifth and final goal the 87th minute.
The team’s run to the semifinal came out of nowhere. Palestine’s participation in youth tournaments of all shapes and sizes makes for rather glum reading. Zero successful qualifications for U16/17 and U19/20 Asian competitions and zero wins at the U20 Arab Cup had been recorded coming into this tournament.
Husam Younis’s men took care of the latter by recording a sensational 5-3 comeback win over Sudan to open proceedings. Three days later they fell to Morocco courtesy of a late goal but advanced to the quarterfinals as one of the best runners up. They were then clearly the bettter team against Jordan despite having five fewer rest days than their opponents.
In spite of the less that positive end to the Cinderella run followers of Palestinian football should be optimistic. This participation showed that stability and support to the youth teams can generate positive results. Husam Younis’s side will have also gained important experience before the U20 Asian Cup qualifiers due to be held in Laos in September where they will face Japan, Yemen, Guam, and the hosts Laos.
