Rapid Reaction: Philippines 4:3 Palestine

Abuhabib: Palestine's best player today

Palestine Starting XI: Saleh (C); Abu Saleh, Harbi, Mahdi, Abujazr; Wadi (Jamal 35'), Kawre' (Barghouthi 76'), Khader Youssef, Samara (Nu'man 51'); Abuhabib, Attal.


Goals: Abuhabib (21, 67), Attal (78)
Bookings: Harbi (24), Abujazr (34), Abu Saleh (73), Ramzi Saleh (90+3)


Recap: The Third-Place Playoff. Otherwise known as the I'd rather be somewhere else Championship. In most tournaments these affairs tend to be high scoring, sloppy, thoroughly entertaining affairs that provide great entertainment for the neutral follower. Philippines vs. Palestine fit the bill almost perfectly. Al-Fursan who had been lauded for their organization and defensive stoutness during the Challenge Cup were caught napping repeatedly during the first half. Phil Younghusband opened the scoring inside the first four minutes. Some truly atrocious defending allowed Phil Younghusband to skip past three defenders en route to slipping the ball to Saleh's left for the opener.

Preview: Palestine v Philippines

Game Information:
What: 2012 AFC Challenge Cup Third Place Playoff
Where: Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu, Nepal
When: March 19th, 2012 
Kickoff:0845 GMT
Streams: www.hahasport.com // www.goalnepal.com/tv


FIFA Rank: 156th (26th in AFC)
Previous Meetings:  D 0-0 (2012 Challenge Cup Qualifying)

Philippines Recent Results:
16/03/2012 v. Turkmenistan L 1-2
13/03/2012 v. Tajikistan W 2-1
11/03/2012 v. India W 2-0 
09/03/2012 v. DPR Korea L 0-2
29/02/2012 v. Malaysia D 1-1

Rapid Reaction: Palestine 0:2 DPR Korea (Challenge Cup Semifinal)

Palestine Starting XI: Saleh (C); Abu Saleh, Harbi, Mahdi, Abujazr; Samara (Khaled Salem 69'), Ismail, Khader Youssef, Ashraf Nu'man (Mohammed Jamal 84'); Attal, Attieh (Kawre' 47'). 

Bookings: Abu Saleh 65', Ramzi Saleh 85'

Preview: How Palestine can beat DPR Korea

Hussam Abu Saleh (L) could be Palestine's key player

It is, without a doubt, the biggest game game in Palestine's footballing history and will only be eclipsed should Palestine win and make the final next week. Al-Fursan are two wins away from a place at Australia 2015 alongside the hosts, holders Japan, and Korea Republic. Before dreaming of kangaroos and koalas the Palestinians must find a way past DPR Korea- the current Challenge Cup holders. The Chollima were also World Cup Finals participants in 2010- making this Palestine's first game against a finalist since their 2-0 loss to Iran in the 2007 WAFF Championships.

Al-Fursan  will most likely not outlast the Chollima in a marathon 120-minute match. Playing out a 0-0 stalemate as they did last week against Turkmenistan will most definitely play into the hands of the North Koreans whose fitness levels are amongst the best in Asia. That said, Palestine do have an extra day's rest and are more battle-hardened than the Koreans who have been coasting since their 3rd minute goal against Tajikistan in their second game. Palestine on the other hand were not sure of qualification until Houssam Wadi's 59th minute opener against the Maldives. In sports, sometimes the team that has had the easy route can get caught up in a complacent attitude. We shall see if that is the case with DPR Korea tomorrow.

#Azkals

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