Qualifiers Final Round Group B: Palestine 1-0 Mongolia www.the-afc.com
Ulaanbaatar: A late Oday Dabbagh penalty saw Palestine secure a narrow 1-0 win over Mongolia in their opening AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers Final Round match at the MFF Stadium on Wednesday.
Following a largely uneventful first 45 minutes, Palestine sprung into life after the interval and missed several chances of note early in the second half before substitute Dabbagh ultimately wrapped up a hard-earned three points from the spot seven minutes from time.
The match marked both sides’ first competitive game of the year with Palestine last turning out at the FIFA Arab Cup™ at the end of 2021 and hosts Mongolia – who did play a pair of friendlies against Laos and Bangladesh in March – taking to the pitch a year and a day after stunning Kyrgyz Republic 1-0 in the previous round of qualifiers.
Looking to advance to their third consecutive AFC Asian Cup, Palestine started the brighter of the sides and had their first chance of note in the 10th minute when Mahmoud Wadi headed Tamer Seyam’s corner from the right straight at goalkeeper Munkh-Erdene Enkhtaivan.
Palestine controlled the majority of possession in the first half but, with star forward Dabbagh left on the bench, struggled to find a spark up front as a resolute Mongolia remained firm at the back before starting to offer more of an attacking threat as the half wore on.
The Palestinians came out full of intent after the interval and came close in the 52nd minute when captain Seyam’s cross found Saleh Chihadeh, who laid the ball back for substitute Mohammed Rashid to fire just wide.
The same trio combined less than a minute later when the lively Rashid’s cross was flicked on by Seyam and then headed over by Chihadeh as Mongolia held out once more.
Portugal-based Dabbagh, scorer of four goals in the previous round of qualifiers, was introduced midway through the second half as Palestine sought to make their dominance count.
Seyam had another sight on goal with just over 15 minutes to play after being picked out by Mahmour Abuwarda but chose the tricky option of trying to chip Enkhtaivan and saw his effort from 10 yards comfortably held by the custodian.
A shot from distance from Yaser Hamed called the goalkeeper into action once more soon after but yet again he was equal to the challenge as Mongolia continued to frustrate the Palestinian frontline.
Then with 10 minutes to play substitute Bader Mousa missed the best chance of the game when, unmarked in the centre, he headed Abuwarda’s inch-perfect delivery over the crossbar.
But in the 83rd minute Palestine were awarded a penalty after Munkh-Orgil Orkhon was adjudged to have handled Seyam’s delivery from the byline and Dabbagh duly converted into the bottom left corner two minutes later to hand Palestine all three points.
With the earlier Group B game between Philippines and Yemen ending goalless, Palestine move to the top of the standings, with Mongolia the only team without a point after the opening round of fixtures.
The teams will return for their second games on Saturday, when Palestine take on West Asian rivals Yemen and Mongolia face Philippines.
Published Date:2022-06-09