Goals from captain Hassan Al Haydos and Akram Afif secure 2-1 victory

Qatar’s Akram Afif, left, is congratulated via his teammates after he scored the winner from the penalty spot in the Asian Cup… last-16 healthy towards Palestine at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on Monday, January 29, 2024. AP

Palestine’s inspiring run at the Asian Cup came to quit with a 2-1 defeat to hosts and holders Qatar in the last 16 on Monday, having reached the knockout rounds for the first time.

That they reached this a long way in the tournament is an fulfillment in itself as some Palestinian gamers have misplaced loved ones in the ongoing war, while the crew had been pressured to teach and play suits overseas in the lead-up to the tournament.

On Monday, Palestine’s Oday Dabbagh taken aback the crowd of nearly 65,000 at the Al Bayt Stadium through opening the scoring in the thirty seventh minute.

He and his team-mates celebrated by means of crossing their raised fingers in a handcuffs gesture.

Qatar equalised via captain Hassan Al Haydos in first-half damage time, before Akram Afif scored his fourth aim of the tournament, from the penalty spot, 4 minutes after the break.

Despite Qatar starting as favourites, it was once Palestine who looked extra promising in assault in the first half of and they have been rewarded for their perseverance in the 37th minute.

Palestine stole the ball off Qatar excessive up the pitch earlier than Dabbagh embarked on a solo run and shot previous keeper Meshaal Barsham into the backside nook for his 1/3 goal of the event and the country’s first ever in the knockout stage.

But Qatar skipper Al Haydos equalised with the closing kick of the half when he latched onto Afif’s low pass from a corner and fired it domestic through two defenders and keeper Rami Hamadeh.

Qatar then took the lead minutes after the wreck when Almoez Ali used to be added down with the aid of a late sliding address from Mohammed Saleh and Afif stepped up to rating his fourth aim in as many video games at the tournament.

Palestine had a few probabilities to equalise however lacked the ending touch as Qatar held on. The hosts will return to Al Bayt for a quarter-final against either Uzbekistan or Thailand.