BANKING on its physical game, Palestine whipped the Philippines 4-0 yesterday to top Group B with its third straight win and earn a ticket to the 2023 Asian Cup at the Mongolian Football Federation Training Center pitch in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolians.
In a rematch between the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup finalists, the Lions of Canaan ripped the Azkals’ defenses apart and went into the break with a 2-0 lead through headers by Saleh Chiladeh and Tamer Seyam in the 31st and 42nd minutes, respectively.
Continuing to put the pressure on, the charges of Tunisian mentor Makram Daboub added two more makers courtesy of Mohammed Yameen (55th) and Mahmoud Abu Warda (72nd) in cruising to their third straight Asian Cup appearance.
The outcome was a far cry from the 1-0 squeaker that Palestine fashioned over the Philippines the last time they met in the 2014 Challenge Cup finals in the Maldives where comebacking coach Thomas Dooley also called the shots for the Pinoy footballers.
