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Palestine’s goal of qualifying to their first ever U20 Asian Cup kicked off earlier today in Laos with the Husam Younis’s men seeking to build on their semifinal finish at the Arab Cup last month.
Their first opponent, Yemen, had proven their mettle at successive youth tournaments over the past year winning the U16 WAFF Championship and garnering six points at the U19 WAFF Championship in 2021 and following that up with a quarterfinal and semifinal berth at the Arab Cup at U20 and U17 levels, respectively.
Yemen also have a history of success at youth level having qualified for seven previous editions of the U19/U20 continental showpiece. Between 2008 and 2016- Yemen qualified for four out of the five tournaments- an achievement that is oft overlooked due to the country rarely qualifying for the Asian Cup at senior level.
With Japan the only other serious contender in the group both Yemen and Palestine knew that avoiding defeat, and preferably sealing all three points, would be crucial to their hopes of qualification. Palestine started the match off with a bang with centreback Amro Rizik powering home the opener off Mohammed Sandouqa’s corner kick in the fourth minute
Palestine had a goal controversially ruled out in the 35th minute denying Rizik yet another corner kick goal. Replays failed to show any clear foul in the lead up.
Al-Fida’i would have their second goal moments after the second half kickoff courtesy of Bassam Chedid. Moments later, Qassem El-Sharafi would be sent off for Yemen attempting to win a penalty kick for Yemen. The yellow card awarded for simulation was his second, leaving the referee no choice.
To their credit, Yemen fought back. Their first goal, in the 56th minute came after Amro Rizik played goalscorer Hamzah Mahrous onside allowing him a one on one chance against goalkeeper Matias Madina. Five minutes later, Yemen scored an absolute belter but the chance that fell to Mohammed Mahdi was the result of criminal set piece defending.
Following that passage in play, both coaches went to their bench to try and alter the outcome of the match. A winner was not forthcoming with the result leaving Palestine ahead of Yemen in the standings courtesy of fair play points.
