SHARJAH, UAE, Monday, January 07, 2019 (WAFA) - The players of the Palestinian national football team, Al-Fedaee, are satisfied with the result of a 0-0 draw in the football match they played against Syria on Sunday in the first round of the second group of the Asia Cup.
"The draw with Syria is a good result," said the team’s captain and one of the stars of the match, Abdul Latif Bahdari, during the press conference after the game.
"Our players were tough, especially in the second half after Mohammed Saleh was removed from the game after he got a red card," he said. “We succeeded in making up for his departure.”
Bahdari said the team was able to stop the offensive of two of the Syrian team’s best players by narrowing the space for them in the middle of the pitch. “This task was not easy. They are the best in Asia."
He added: "We are happy with the draw, we will prepare well for Australia in the next match and we will correct the mistakes," explaining that Jordan‘s victory over Australia was a motivation for the Palestinian players. "The game will be difficult against the defending champion (Australia). We will do our best to stop their players."
Mohammed Saleh, the team’s defense player, criticized the decision by the referee to expel him from the game. "The decision to kick me out was wrong, and television replays will confirm that," he said at the press conference.
"The game was good,” he said. “We played to win and our defense had to bear a big load. We played as a team and we are ready to play Australia and beyond. We plan for each game separately."
Sameh Marabeh said the Palestinian team performed well against the Syrian team. "Our goal was to win, but the conditions of the match did not serve us, especially with the expulsion in the second half," he said. "We have one point, which is better than nothing.”
He added: "The Palestinian team is different from the other teams. We live in very difficult circumstances and under occupation. Yet, we were able to please our fans today. This is a motive for us in the coming matches. Jordan‘s victory over Australia confirmed that there is such thing as a big team and a small one in the tournament."
Rami Hamadeh, the team’s goalkeeper, said he was satisfied with the draw. "I am very happy to have scored the first point in our history in the Asia Cup, especially since it came against a strong and prominent team like Syria," he said.
"I am very happy to contribute to the draw with my teammates, and we all strive to honor Palestine in the best possible way during the tournament," he added.
"We have played a strong game against Syria; the fighting spirit has very visible. We scored a valuable point and we will continue to do our best against Australia to write a new history for the Fedaee in the Asia Cup."
Palestine plays Australia on Friday.
M.K.
