Asian Cup 2015: Palestine proud of performance despite getting thumped by Jordan

THEIR hopes of making the Asian Cup knockout stages may be over, but Palestine refused to be downtrodden after Friday night’s 5-1 loss to Jordan.

THEIR hopes of making the Asian Cup knockout stages may be over, but Palestine refused to be downtrodden after Friday night’s 5-1 loss to Jordan at AAMI Park.

A large portion of the 10,808 crowd were behind the Palestinians, particularly a large and boisterous block of supporters at the northern end of the ground who, with their drums and never-ending chants, created another great atmosphere.

And they went absolutely nuts in the 85th minute when Jaka Hbaisha scored their first goal at a major tournament after getting on the end of Mahmoud Dhadha’s free kick.

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Jaka Hbaisha scored Palestine’s first goal at a major tournament.

Ranked 115th in the world, Palestine — only recognised by FIFA in 1998 — qualified for the Asian Cup by winning the AFC Challenge Cup, a competition for Asia’s developing nations, last May.

Getting a point here, let alone getting out of the group, was always going to be a struggle.

As such the team’s players and coaches have said that hearing the Palestinian anthem sung and seeing their flag raised at a major tournament has been just as important to them as the sport itself.

Hbaisha said the result was disappointing, but prodded on the goal he said he was happy to score.

The 28-year-old also said he hoped the team’s Asian Cup appearance would inspire future generations of Palestinians.

“It’s a historical goal for Palestine and that’s what I am happy about,” Hbaisha said.

“The future can only be brighter because this is the first time we are here at this big tournament.

“Maybe the people around the world don’t know how hard it was to come here, and we fight again to qualify for the next Asian Cup and the next World Cup.

“For young people ... football is really important. They are off the streets and not doing something stupid or silly.”

Palestinian fans make themselves heard at AAMI Park.

It was the most unique of derbys as six members of Jordan’s starting side — Tareq Khattab, Ahmad Elias Ahmad Ali, Mohammad Al Dmeiri, Abdallah Deeb, Odai Al Saify and captain Amer Shafi — have Palestinian backgrounds. Another, Ahmed Nawaf Israiwah, came off the bench.

It was no surprise then that the post-match embraces between the two sets of players were warm and heartfelt in what was also the first time the border-sharing teams had played a competitive match against each other.

Al Saify said the game was a special one for him.

“You know, Palestine and Jordan are the same people,” Al Saify said.

“It’s a derby for us. I say ‘hard luck’ to the Palestine team and I hope all the best for them.”

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Palestine proud of performance despite getting thumped by Jordan