Palestine into Semifinals with Win Over Maldives at AFC Challenge Cup

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Palestine produced another clinical performance to seal their place in the semi-final of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup following their 2-0 victory over the Maldives at Halchowk Stadium in the last match of Group A. Husam Wadi headed home Mohammed Mohammed’s 59^th minute cross before Ashraf Al Fawaghra scored in stoppage-time to seal the win in what was an evenly contested battle.

The Maldives went into the match still in with a chance of a place in the final four and they gave the West Asians some worrying moments early on when Umair Mohammed’s free-kick sailed over the bar in the second minute while Palestine came close eight minutes later when Wadi’s pile driver came within a whisker of the goal.

Maldives goalkeeper Imran Mohamed was called into the action in the 19^th minute when he made a brilliant reflex save from Alla Atya’s close-range drive before making a double save to keep out Wadi then Atya in the 34^th minute.

Both sides had their chances in the second half but it was Palestine who made the most of their opportunities to deservedly win the match.

After wasting a couple of good chances Palestine finally broke the deadlock just before the hour mark when a lapse of concentration in the Maldives defence allowed Wadi to open the scoring with a powerful header.

The Maldives tried their best for the equaliser but there was no way through the well-organised Palestine defence and the Indian Ocean islanders were caught out against the run of play when Al Fawaghra scored with a fine individual effort as Palestine confirmed the second-place finish behind Turkmenistan – who topped the group after defeating Nepal 3-0 – and a semi-final date with Group B winners DPR Korea.