Qatar vs Palestine 2-1: AFC Asian Cup 2023 – as it happened

The hosts and defending champions, Qatar, are through, and Palestine, the smaller team, go out but not without a fight.

The Asian Cup certainly delivered an upset earlier in the day as Iraq fell at the expense of Jordan.

We hope you enjoyed our live coverage of both games, and do switch across to our other live sports pages now under way.

From this page and me, Kevin Hand, though, it goodbye and thanks for joining us.

Final match result between Qatar and Palestine

🇶🇦🆚🇵🇸#AsianCup2023 #HayyaAsia pic.twitter.com/OGwNtLRQQ5

— AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 (@Qatar2023en) January 29, 2024

Palestine coach Makram Daboub says he couldn’t have been more proud of his “champion team”, who set aside the fatigue of travelling to different countries and leaving a war-struck homeland to put on an impressive performance in the Asian Cup.

“We would have liked to bring the people of Palestine more joy, but it wasn’t to be,” he said at a post-match press conference.

We’ve got live coverage of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami against Al Hilal under way already.

So too is the build-up to hosts Ivory Coast against defending champions Senegal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

We know four of the quarterfinalists already.

Who of Uzbekistan, Thailand, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Bahrain, Iran and Syria will be joining Qatar, Australia, Jordan and the remarkable Tajikistan in the next round?

JORDAN 🇯🇴 and QATAR 🇶🇦 join Australia and Tajikistan in the #AsianCup2023 Round of 8

🇦🇺🇹🇯🇯🇴🇶🇦#HayyaAsia pic.twitter.com/63c6IUbuBf

— AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 (@Qatar2023en) January 29, 2024

Qatar will now face the winners of Uzbekistan vs Thailand, who play on Tuesday, in the quarterfinals.

Iran and Japan are also on Qatar’s side of the draw, and a mouth-watering set of fixtures are shaping up in the final stages of the Asian Cup.

Palestinian players have walked up to the supporters behind their goal to applaud them.

Next, they trudge towards the Qatari fan contingent, who are chanting “Falasteen” to gee up the visiting team.

Palestine had 11 shots on goal and five on target . That was two more than Qatar on both counts.

The possession was shaded 60-40 by the hosts, but it really was a result that Qatar were made to work extremely hard for.

FT | 🇶🇦 Qatar 2️⃣-1️⃣ Palestine 🇵🇸

Qatar's title defence continues! #AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #QATvPLE pic.twitter.com/30PtFJ0vTy

— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 29, 2024

There is relief in the Qatari camp at the full-time whistle.

Meanwhile, Palestine look like they have simply run out of steam.

Qatar were made to work for that.

Palestine fought incredibly hard in their first appearance at the knockout stage of an Asian Cup.

Dabbagh’s goal alone was worthy of high praise.

The recovery from Qatar was impressive, though. It was a sloppy penalty to give away as Saleh slid in on Ali before Afif, who laid on the pass for Ali, stepped up to level.

Al Haydos won it with a clever routine from the corner to find space to receive Afif’s cross.

The effort never faltered from Palestine, but it’s the hosts that progress with an 11th straight Asian Cup win.

Qatar hold on. Batran’s shot over the bar was the last effort for Palestine.

Full-time: Qatar 2-1 Palestine

The Palestine sub steps inside three challenges and looks to bend the ball to the far post.

His left-footed shot curls over, though.

90+5 minutes: Qatar 2-1 Palestine

He reaches the line on the inside right of the area after a fast burst.

The cross is blocked, and a tame effort comes in from well outside the area.

90+3 minutes: Qatar 2-1 Palestine

News comes through early of how many minutes will be added.

90 minutes: Qatar 2-1 Palestine

Ali leads a three-on-two counter for Qatar, and Afif breaks to the left, but the ball goes to the right and also goes astray as the move breaks down.

87 minutes: Qatar 2-1 Palestine

There is little doubt that Afif is the crowd favourite.

The noise goes up a notch every time number 11 has the ball at his feet.

A right-footed effort is curled in from the edge of the box, but it’s over the bar.

87 minutes: Qatar 2-1 Palestine

It’s in a dangerous position on the edge of the box.

Ali had laid on for Afif, whose drag-back drew the foul.

85 minutes: Qatar 2-1 Palestine

After Palestine’s recent rally, Afif holds up play close to the corner flag.

He’s not trying to run down the clock, as such, more he just wants a moment for his team to take stock.

83 minutes: Qatar 2-1 Palestine

Rashi swings the cross in from the left following a short free kick, and Qunbar glances the header towards goal, but it flicks off the head of a Qatar defender to loop to the keeper.

81 minutes: Qatar 2-1 Palestine

Saldana slips away from Gaber and wins the kick on the left wing.

80 minutes: Qatar 2-1 Palestine