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Starting XI (4-4-2): Abdelhadi Yassin, Omar El-Kayed, Ali Rabei, Ibrahim Abuimier, Wajdi Nabhan (C), Ahmed Kullab, Hamza Hussein, Zaid Qunbar, Ahmed Daghim(Samer Zubaida) , Khaled Al-Nabris, Gibran Haj Yousef (Anas Bani Owda)
Substitutions: Samer Zubaida <-> Ahmed Daghim 57’ // Anas Bani Owda <-> Gibran Haj Yousef 57’
Cautions: Ibrahim Abuimier 6’, Khaled Al-Nabris 34’, Anas Bani Owda 64’, Hamza Hussein 89’
HIGHLIGHTS FORTHCOMING
Recap: It was yet another game where everything went right with the exception of the most important element of the game- finishing.
Khaled Al-Nabris missed two good chances in the first half including a one on one. In the second half, Samer Zubaida added a spark to the game off the bench and he was also presented with two good opportunities to score with another one on one completely foiled by Taha Moussa.
Palestine’s willed themselves to dominate large parts of the game in the 35 degree heat in Constantine but at every turn they were foiled. As for their opponents, the Syrians had a good spell towards the end of the game but failed to trouble Abdelhadi Yassin for the entirety of the game.
What I liked: I cannot fault the effort and if you can’t win then it’s important to at least draw and collect points that increase your chances of qualification. Palestine went toe-to-toe with a Syria squad that had 108 caps of senior team experience amongst Moauyad Ajjan, Mardek Mardekian, and the aforementioned Taha Moussa. Palestine were better- but this game is about taking the chances presented to you.
What I didn’t like: I am not sure this team is equipped to play 4-4-2 mostly because it leaves Zaid Qunbar too far away from the goal and because Palestine isn’t able to control proceedings as much as it does in a 4-3-3. Of course had Palestine finished their chances in the first half of both games we would be lauding Ehab Abu Jazar’s genius.
What I really didn’t like: The broadcast quality of these games has been horrible. They have quite literally been captured on a smart phone and then broadcasted onto YouTube and other platforms. The other games have proper TV coverage but it has been very difficult to watch and analyze a game with no replays or different camera angles.
Let’s hope that Palestine’s game against Saudi Arabia on Saturday is broadcasted in a more professional manner.
Yellow Card Watch: Syria did not register a single caution today which should help their fair play points. Palestine picked up their first four yellow cards of the tournament. These things could come into play should two or more teams end up on more teams on the same amount of points.
What’s Next: Palestine takes on Saudi Arabia on July 8th at 19:30 Jerusalem time
