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Agence France-Presse

Hosts and holders Qatar fought back to defeat Palestine 2-1 and reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals on Monday, joining a Jordan side who struck twice in injury time to stun Iraq.
Qatar will face the winner of Tuesday’s last-16 meeting between Uzbekistan and Thailand, the lowest-ranked team left in Doha at 113th in the world.
Palestine coach Makram Daboub said he was proud of his team as their best Asian Cup came to an end in the last 16.
Palestine were playing in the knockout rounds for the first time and, against the backdrop of the Israel-Gaza war, took a surprise first-half lead.
Fresh from beating Hong Kong 3-0 for their first win in the competition’s history, Palestine made a bright start and Oday Dabbagh fired them ahead on 37 minutes.

He and his teammates celebrated by crossing their raised arms in a handcuffs gesture to symbolise the plight of the Palestinian people.
Qatar had failed to settle in front of an expectant home crowd and the Palestinians, ranked 99th to the hosts’ 58th, were dreaming of making more history by advancing against the odds.
But captain Hassan Al-Haydos came to Qatar’s rescue on the stroke of half-time when he rammed the ball past goalkeeper Rami Hamada after a corner was neatly cut back to him by Akram Afif.
Four minutes after the break Afif scored his fourth goal of the tournament, from the penalty spot, and Qatar cruised through the rest of the match.
Daboub said his players “gave everything despite the very difficult circumstances”.
“I can’t ask any more of them – they have honoured Palestinian football,” he said.
The attendance of more than 60,000 meant this 18th edition is already the most-watched Asian Cup with 1.06 million people through the turnstiles so far, beating the 1.04 million who attended in China in 2004.

Jordan will meet Tajikistan in the quarter-finals after scoring twice in three minutes deep in stoppage time to beat Iraq 3-2.
There were chaotic scenes in Iraq’s post-match press conference when angry Iraqi reporters confronted the team’s Spanish coach Jesus Casas, before security stepped in to usher them away.
“It pains me what happened,” Casas said of the incident.
Jordan had a man advantage after the 77th-minute dismissal of Aymen Hussein – booked for celebrating – but looked down and out in injury time, only for Yazan Al-Arab to prod in a 95th-minute leveller.
If that was hard to believe, better was to come two minutes later for Jordan when Nizar Al-Rashdan curled in from outside the box to fire the underdogs into the last eight and spark wild celebrations.
Iraq’s heartbroken players were left flat-out on the turf, their dreams of repeating the country’s fairy tale 2007 Asian Cup title somehow snatched from their grasp.
Jordan’s coach Hussein Ammouta agreed with Casas that the harsh dismissal of Hussein for a second yellow card for over-celebrating what he thought was Iraq’s winner changed the game.
“The second half belonged to them, they scored two goals and then had to continue with 10 players,” said the Moroccan.
Jordan, who held South Korea 2-2 in the group phase, next face a Tajikistan side who are one of the surprise packages of the competition on their Asian Cup debut.
On Tuesday, Jurgen Klinsmann’s South Korea play Roberto Mancini’s Saudi Arabia for the right to face Australia in the last eight.


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AFC Asian Cup 2023

AFC Asian Cup: Qatar end Palestine’s run with comeback win, Jordan stun 10-man Iraq in late show

Qatar’s Akram Afif celebrates after scoring his team’s winner against Palestine. Photo: AP

Palestine’s Oday Dabbagh, third from left, celebrates with teammates after putting side ahead against Qatar. Photo: AP

Jordan’s players celebrate after Mousa Altamari scores his side’s second at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. Photo: AP

AFC Asian Cup: Hong Kong closing gap on better teams but attacking quality still missing, says Andersen

Hong Kong battled gamely against Palestine but could not recreate the intensity from their opening two matches. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong’s players were crushed after losing their decisive Asian Cup match against Palestine. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong’s exceptional supporters backed their team from start to finish, and beyond. Photo: AP

AFC Asian Cup: Hong Kong dreams extinguished by inspired Palestine as Jorn Andersen’s team exit Qatar tournament

Hong Kong’s pursuit of an AFC Asian Cup last-16 spot ended in defeat by Palestine in Doha. Photo: Reuters

Everton Camargo crashes a penalty on to the crossbar in stoppage time as Hong Kong’s hopes end. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong’s Tan Chun-lok contests the ball with Palestine’s Tamer Seyam during Tuesday’s Group C match. Photo: AP

Sport

Football

Palestine were playing in the knockout rounds of the tournament for the first time after beating Hong Kong 3-0 in the group stage
Jordan cause huge upset against Iraq, who finish game with 10 men in tense ending


Palestine were playing in the knockout rounds of the tournament for the first time after beating Hong Kong 3-0 in the group stage.


Uzbekistan

AFC Asian Cup: Qatar end Palestine’s run with comeback win, Jordan stun 10-man Iraq in late show

Palestine were playing in the knockout rounds of the tournament for the first time after beating Hong Kong 3-0 in the group stage Jordan cause huge upset against Iraq, who finish game with 10 men in tense ending

Palestine were playing in the knockout rounds of the tournament for the first time after beating Hong Kong 3-0 in the group stage

Jordan cause huge upset against Iraq, who finish game with 10 men in tense ending