Palestine on Tuesday reached the Asian Cup knockout rounds for the first time with their maiden win in the history of the competition, but China’s fate was sealed at the first hurdle.
Syria also made history by reaching the round-of-16 in Qatar, with Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) advancing as well on another night of high drama.
Palestine narrowly missed out on second spot in Group C, but squeezed through as one of the four best third-placed teams after beating Hong Kong 3-0.
Photo: AFP
The victory in Doha comes against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Palestine’s players and staff have lost loved ones in the conflict and said before the tournament that they hoped to provide some comfort to those suffering back home.
Oday Dabbagh scored in each half and Zeid Qunbar grabbed another before Palestine were given a late scare when Hong Kong missed a penalty.
“Thank you to the fans who are coming to support Palestine,” captain Musab Al-Battat told beIN SPORTS. “Thank you from our heart.”
The UAE went through in second place despite losing 2-1 to group winners Iran.
Syria also reached the knockout rounds for the first time with a 1-0 win over Igor Stimac’s India in Group B.
Omar Khribin was Syria’s hero, his 76th-minute goal also confirming China’s early exit from the competition.
China had hoped to sneak through with their third place and two points in Group A.
They failed to score in any of their three matches.
Australia topped Group B following a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan, with Hector Cuper’s Syria progressing with those two teams as one of the best third-placed teams.
India came bottom and are heading home with no wins or goals.
“We are very happy with the qualification, very proud of my players, they made huge sacrifices to get this result,” Argentine coach Cuper said. “We played the game with one aim in our mind — to win, and we managed to do that. We don’t want to stop here.”
Despite another early exit, Stimac said India would take home “good lessons.”
“It was a learning experience for the boys,” he said, having seen his team beaten 2-0 by Australia and 3-0 by Uzbekistan. “My satisfaction is that we managed to create chances against Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria.”
In the other game between Uzbekistan and Australia, who had already qualified, the Socceroos took a controversial lead through a Martin Boyle penalty in first-half stoppage-time.
A video assistant referee check harshly ruled that the ball had hit Uzbekistan defender Odiljon Hamrobekov’s hand in the buildup as he slid in to tackle Australia forward Kusini Yengi.
Boyle dispatched the penalty low into the corner.
“If this is a penalty I don’t understand the rules. There is no intention,” Uzbekistan coach Srecko Katanec said.
Uzbekistan, who have been touted as outsiders for the title, leveled 12 minutes from time when substitute Azizbek Turgunboev got on the end of a cross to head home.
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