What: 2023 AFC Asian Cup Group Match
When: Sunday, January 14th, 2024
Where: Education City Stadium, Al-Rayyan, Qatar
Kickoff: 19:30 Jerusalem Time
TV: Our Substack subscribers will receive an email with a link to a live stream on the day of the game. Subscribe here.
Previous Encounters:
04.03.2001: Hong Kong 1:1 Palestine (2002 World Cup qualifier)
20.03.2001: Hong Kong 0:1 Palestine (2002 World Cup qualifier)
Will history be made against Hong Kong Again?
To try and extrapolate results of future matches based on previous encounters is a perilous exercise in international football. This is especially the case when the last time the two teams met was more than a generation ago. The oldest player in the team would have been eight years old when Palestine last played Hong Kong- Samer Zubaida and Zaid Qunbar were not even born yet!
That said, Hong Kong does bring fond memories for long time followers of the Palestine national team. The team’s first World Cup qualifier after being readmitted to FIFA in 1998 was against Hong Kong. A goal from Emad Ayoub gave Palestine a 1-1 draw on March 4th, 2001 and 16 days later Al-Fida’i registered a 1-0 win over Hong Kong in Doha, Qatar.
The hope for everyone involved is that Palestine is able to repeat the feat nearly 24 years later.
At the pre-match press conference, both Makram Daboub and Tamer Seyam acknowledged the importance of the match and the fact that a win would be truly historic.
When asked about potentially equaling Fahed Attal’s goal record Seyam brushed aside the question; focusing solely on the result and saying that scoring would only be to make up for his penalty miss against UAE.
Tactical tidbits
Palestine are on an extra day’s rest which should help the team exhibit the energy levels needed to push for a result.
Hong Kong have shown that they are more than capable of causing problems and a signature of their play under Jørn Andersen. The islanders have employed a high press to discombobulate sides that like to keep possession forcing them into mistakes in possession.
Palestine will have to be wary of the press and find ways to play around it while strategically trying to play over the press. If things work out, Palestine might be able to recreate their game against Philippines in Asian Cup qualifying. The Azkals in that game tried to shut down Palestine’s two builders- Mus’ab Al-Battat and Mohammed Rashid.
That did stymie the attack but Palestine showcased the ability to go vertical. It was not pretty and the passing rate statistics showed Philippines being better passers and possessors of the ball but it was effective. Palestine took the lead in the 31st minute doubled it in the 42nd and with the floodgates opened as the Azkals desperately poured forward Palestine added another two for good measure.
The overall feeling in camp is that Palestine can win this game if they remain focused. Makram Daboub told the press on Monday “The Hong Kong game will be hard but If we play like we did against the UAE, especially in the second half, we will be able to achieve victory.”
