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By Kevin Hand
Published On 23 Jan 2024
  • Palestine beat Hong Kong 3-0 in their final group-stage match of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha.
  • Palestine progress to the knock-out stages as one of the best third-place finishers in the groups.
23 Jan 2024 - 17:55
 (17:55 GMT)

Goodbye for now

That’s it from the live coverage of Hong Kong against Palestine.

What a match that was and what a performance from Palestine.

They progress alongside Iran and UAE, who finish first and second respectively, from Group C.

We’ll be back with more action from both the Asian Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations tomorrow.

Do join us for those games if you can.

For now from Hafsa Adil and myself Kevin Hand, it’s goodbye.

 

23 Jan 2024 - 17:46
 (17:46 GMT)

History for Palestine

23 Jan 2024 - 17:31
 (17:31 GMT)

‘We are one’

To say that Palestine fans are proud of their team would be an understatement.

All of the Palestine supporters that Al Jazeera spoke with said that their team’s win means more than just a result on the pitch.

“It shows the world that we are one people – we may not be allowed to live in our homeland but we stand united and will always fight for our cause, be it football or freedom,” Linah Abdul Fattah said outside the stadium.

23 Jan 2024 - 17:21
 (17:21 GMT)

Here are the stats

It was as comfortable a victory as the scoreline suggests.

All of the stats were dominated by Palestine.

23 Jan 2024 - 17:20
 (17:20 GMT)

What a moment for the Palestine team

23 Jan 2024 - 17:19
 (17:19 GMT)

Emotions run high after the game

The tears won’t stop for Mohammed Saleh, who went down on the pitch as soon as the referee blew the full-time whistle. He performed a sajda and then covered his face with his shirt as he wept uncontrollably.

Saleh, who is one of the few players on this team hailing from Gaza, has spoken about the difficulties of playing football while his family and friends struggle to survive the war there.

Mohammed Saleh breaks down in tears at the end [Hafsa Adil/Al Jazeera]
23 Jan 2024 - 17:15
 (17:15 GMT)

UAE take second spot

A 2-1 win for Iran but Yayha Al Ghassani’s goal is enough for UAE to hold onto second spot.

23 Jan 2024 - 17:13
 (17:13 GMT)

‘Palestine brought the energy’

Hong Kong striker Matt Orr admits his side were second best.

“From the first whistle we weren’t there, but Palestine brought the energy today,” he told the official broadcast.

“We need to fight and hope we can get back here. We’ve learned that we can compete with the best in Asia.”

23 Jan 2024 - 17:07
 (17:07 GMT)

Will it be second or third for Palestine

As it stands, they finish third and their points return will be enough to send them through.

Another Iran goal and Palestine will move back up to second.

23 Jan 2024 - 17:06
 (17:06 GMT)

Full time – Palestine progress!

Palestine are through to the knock-out stage.

Full-time: Hong Kong 0-3 Palestine

23 Jan 2024 - 17:05
 (17:05 GMT)

Palestine nearly had a counter

Straight from the missed kick, Palestine burst to the other end but no chance was created.

UAE’s goal has moved them second, so the penalty miss keeps alive Palestine’s hopes of a fourth goal and taking second spot.

90+9 minutes: Hong Kong 0-3 Palestine

23 Jan 2024 - 17:03
 (17:03 GMT)

PENALTY MISSED!

Everton hits the bar.

90+9 minutes: Hong Kong 0-3 Palestine

23 Jan 2024 - 17:02
 (17:02 GMT)

PENALTY!

Al Battat is not happy.

It doesn’t change the group even if it goes in.

90+7 minutes: Hong Kong 0-3 Palestine

23 Jan 2024 - 17:00
 (17:00 GMT)

VAR check against Palestine

The ball kicked up to hit the hand of Al Battat off his own boot.

This will be interesting.

90+5 minutes: Hong Kong 0-3 Palestine

23 Jan 2024 - 16:58
 (16:58 GMT)

Batran curls wide

The sub is only just off-target, and that looked as though it was going in.

As it stands, UAE reclaim second spot.

90+4 minutes: Hong Kong 0-3 Palestine

23 Jan 2024 - 16:57
 (16:57 GMT)

UAE score!

Can you believe it?

What a tense wait it is now as UAE pull one back in stoppage time.

23 Jan 2024 - 16:56
 (16:56 GMT)

Hassan shoots wide

The sub is set through on the right and shoots wide from just inside the box.

He should have hit the target.

90+2 minutes: Hong Kong 0-3 Palestine

23 Jan 2024 - 16:55
 (16:55 GMT)

Seven minutes of stoppage time

It’s still 2-0 to Iran in the other match, but there’s 13 minutes of stoppage time in that game.

90 minutes: Hong Kong 0-3 Palestine

23 Jan 2024 - 16:52
 (16:52 GMT)

Hong Kong losing their heads

It’s getting tetchy out there and Palestine mustn’t get involved.

They have the game and qualification.

No one needs to miss the next round.

86 minutes: Hong Kong 0-3 Palestine

Hong Kong’s Stefan Figueiredo Pereira, on the ground, watches the ball as his teammate Tan Chun-Lok, left, and Palestine’s Odai Kharoub run [Hussein Sayed/AP Photo]
23 Jan 2024 - 16:48
 (16:48 GMT)

Dabbagh and Seyam off

Amongst it all, Palestine have made all their changes – including two of the star performers.

Maybe this risks second spot, which they still hold from UAE.

85 minutes: Hong Kong 0-3 Palestine

Match Summary

 

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