FOOTBALL – The Fifa Arab Cup continued with two dramatic draws yesterday as Palestine and Syria fought back to secure thrilling points against Tunisia and Qatar respectively.
For the second straight match Palestine have struck late to secure a vital point that keeps them on course for a place in the knockouts.
The 2-2 draw with Tunisia sees the nation go level at the Group A summit with a Syria side that produced their own late drama in Al Rayyan.
Jose Lana’s side bolstered their qualification chances with a dramatic 1-1 draw which has put hosts Qatar’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages in the balance.
Having fallen to a surprise defeat at the hands of Syria first up, Tunisia needed a response against Palestine and in front of a 45,000 strong crowd they were on course to get it.
Playmaker Ismael Gharbi was again a central figure and it was from his 16th-minute corner that Tunisia took the lead.
An in-swinger from the left bobbled off a pair of Palestinian defenders before being tucked home at the back post by Amor Layouni.
The 2021 runners-up doubled the lead six minutes into the second half as Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane brushed aside a Michael Termanini challenge and squared the ball for Firas Chaouat to sweep past Rami Hamada.
A rasping Hamed Hamdan volley from the top of the box though reduced the deficit just after the hour.
Zaid Qunbar then sparked pandemonium on the Palestine bench as he lashed home through the legs of a pair of Tunisian defenders late on to seal a vital point that moves the nation to the verge of a place in the knockout stage for the first time.
A 90th-minute rocket from Omar Khribin secured a highly-dramatic draw for Syria and stunned the home fans, who thought they were on the cusp of celebrating hosts Qatar’s first victory of the campaign.
Syria once again showed why they belonged in the regional showpiece with another impressive performance.
They almost broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when a delightful chipped effort by Khribin was expertly blocked off the line by Qatar midfielder Mohammed Waad, who then clattered into the post.
Early in the second half, it was Qatar who had a goal-bound effort blocked on the line when captain Abdulaziz Hatem’s powerful effort struck Ahmad Faqa’s torso.
After their opening defeat to Palestine, Qatar thought they secured a much-needed victory in the 77th minute when Ahmed Al Aaedin rose above Faqa and guided Edmilson Junior’s cross into the net.
But Syria had the final word thanks to Khribin’s powerful long-distance effort which flew into the top corner to leave the capacity crowd at the Khalifa International Stadium stunned and maintain the pressure on Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui.
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