Al Wakrah, Qatar – It was an evening to recollect at Al Janoub Stadium – an evening that belonged to Palestine regardless of the end result on the pitch.
The gang’s noise, flags and numbers all have been within the favour of the group that got here into the match with an AFC Asian Cup 2023 loss to its name and a relentless conflict on its individuals.
The unrestrained present of affection and help for the war-struck nation started earlier than kickoff, elevated because the evening wore on and quietened down solely when the final set of followers had left the stadium on the finish of Palestine’s Group C match towards the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Al Wakrah on Thursday evening.
Chants of “Free, free Palestine” went up in a crescendo when the gamers walked out of the tunnel and onto the pitch. The Palestinian gamers acknowledged the gang with waves and applause earlier than gathering in a huddle.
“The gamers will really feel a way of accountability tonight – they should be conscious that they’re carrying the hopes of a nation beneath conflict,” Mariana al-Hindi, a Palestinian resident of Qatar, advised Al Jazeera forward of kickoff.
“They are going to need to put a smile on everybody’s face by doing nicely tonight,” she stated as she approached the turnstiles together with her husband and daughter.
“As Palestinians, we’re blissful to see our nation represented and recognised at an enormous occasion, however on the identical time, we’re heartbroken concerning the scenario in Gaza,” Abdullah, her husband, stated.
As soon as the match kicked off, the boys in pink have been willed on by a roaring crowd.
Each contact of the ball by a Palestinian participant was cheered and each time the UAE held possession the unabashedly partisan crowd loudly booed.
Palestine loved some early possession, however the UAE quickly settled right into a rhythm and commenced attacking the Palestinian purpose. Their efforts bore fruit within the twenty third minute when Sultan Adil scored from a free header. The stadium fell silent for a second till a small contingent of Emirati followers started singing.
To not be deterred, the remainder of the gang picked up once more and urged the Palestinian group to push for a purpose and when Oday Dabbagh was hauled down in UAE’s field 12 minutes later, the gang jumped up and pointed to the penalty spot.
The referee’s dismissal of the appeals was not taken nicely by the gang, who willed him on to run a VAR examine.
When a penalty was subsequently awarded to Palestine and Khalifa al-Hammadi was proven a pink card, the stadium stood as much as applaud the choice.
Tamer Sayem didn’t convert from the spot and the primary half ended with UAE nonetheless within the lead.
There was no let up in cheering throughout half-time, particularly when the intro to the tune Dammi Filastini (My Blood is Palestinian) blared from the PA.
The gang was up on its dancing ft and singing alongside to the refrain – they have been all Palestinian for one evening.
When play resumed, Palestine appeared to take management of the proceedings with early strain and it bore fruit because the UAE scored an personal purpose within the forty eighth minute.
Palestine didn’t care how the purpose got here – they ran across the pitch in delight. Within the stands, it was pandemonium. Youngsters jumped on the seats, ladies hugged one another and males let the tears stream when the ball went in.
“These gamers have been by way of quite a bit, all Palestinians have been by way of quite a bit, so this was a really particular second,” Yassine Abdullah, a Palestinian scholar, stated moments after the purpose.
“Everybody noticed what arduous work, inspiration and help did for Morocco on the World Cup. We hope this match can do the identical for our group,” he stated as Palestine pressed for a second purpose.
“We may very well be the Morocco of this event.”
Regardless of their relentless assaults, the 10-man UAE group stored Palestine at bay and held on for a 1-1 draw.
On the full-time whistle, the Palestinian gamers walked across the pitch to applaud their supporters for the electrical environment that stored them going all the best way till the tip.
Assad Qusais, who watched the match together with his household, stated the boys in pink might have finished simply sufficient to maintain some hope alive.
“It depends upon they play towards Hong Kong [in the last group match] however we may nonetheless make it as among the finest third-placed groups,” he stated with a shrug.
Abdullah, who in contrast the help loved by Palestine to the backing Morocco loved on the World Cup, stated he would adore it if his group replicated an analogous run.
The continental event and the match might not carry the burden of a World Cup, however the evening meant the world to the passionate Palestinian supporters.