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The 2018 Asian Games has thrown up some incredible moments in the men's football tournament. From Pakistan’s first win at the Asian games in 44 years thanks to a late winner scored by Saddam Hussain, to Malaysia’s shock 2-1 victory over title holders South Korea, to Uzbekistan dominating the competition by winning 4/4 games, scoring 13, conceding 0 in the process and much, much more! Another great moment that came out the competition was the emergence of two big Palestinian talents who helped their country exceed expectations and do their nation proud. The players in question are 19-Year-Old Oday Dabbagh and 21-Year-Old Mahmoud Yousef who helped put Palestine on the footballing map.
From start to finish Palestine put their hearts and bodies on the line to bring glory to their country who have never won a silver or gold medal in the history of the Asian games. Palestine wasn’t originally meant to be involved in the competition until the last minute when they were added to make up the numbers but they more than showed that they weren’t there to be the whipping boys.
Palestine started their first game of the competition in a match against Chinese Taipei, who finished bottom of group A, but could not find the net and had to settle with a 0-0 draw. In their next game, Palestine took it to a new level as they came from 1-0 down to win 2-1 in the 95th minute against Laos, scored by one of Palestine’s over 23 players in Abdelatif Bahdari.
You would think it would be hard for them to even reach a new level after that performance but they somehow did as they beat the hosts, and one of the favourites, Indonesia 2-1 thanks in part to Oday Dabbagh who scored the opening goal of the game and Palestine’s first. Mahmoud Yousef finally got his name on the scoresheet as he also scored the opening goal of the game against another very strong side in Hong Kong, the goal was also assisted by Oday Dabbagh who was the provider for the majority of Palestine’s goals. Palestine finished second in their group after Indonesia turned a 1-0 deficit against Hong Kong into a 3-1 victory which meant they topped the group and instead of facing UAE, Palestine would face a tough matchup against Syria who finished second in group C, first place was China.
Palestine started the game well and looked like they were on their way to winning the tie as yet again, Oday Dabbagh and Mahmoud Yousef were causing big problems for Syria’s backline who had already conceded 5 goals in the competition. Palestine’s goalkeeper, Rami Hamadi, was keeping his nation in it well by making a good save until sadly he got an injury and was forced off which meant that 22-Year-Old Ramzi Fakhouri would have to replicate Rami’s top shot stopping and he started off doing exactly that! He pulled off some great saves but sadly it just wasn’t Palestine’s day as Fakhouri made a costly error that gave away a goal that would send Palestine home.
Palestine may have lost but they could go away with their heads held high as every single player played well and did everyone back home proud by making it that far in the competition when they had originally been put in at the last minute. Now their time is over, it raises questions about who was watching these great talents and if they want to sign them for their teams, especially Dabbagh who was not only Palestine’s best player but one of the best players at the Asian games!
To focus more about the 2 young players that were originally in question, Mahmoud Yousef is a Israeli born, Palestine international who has even brought his great scoring form to the senior team as he scored a brace against the Maldives in an 8-1 victory that helped Palestine qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, which is being hosted by none other than the United Arab Emirates. His first goal was actually the opening goal of the game and it was a nice header that into the bottom left-hand corner with the keeper having no chance of saving it and it was a great way of not only scoring for your country but scoring on your senior debut too makes the goal even sweeter. His second of the game, which was Palestine’s fourth, was a lovely volley inside the area that smashed into the roof of the net. Mahmoud Yousef really is lethal inside the box as shown by those two goals.
The only problem I can see from Yousef’s game is that he is very hesitant to use his left foot as he lost out on a great chance against Indonesia, luckily it didn’t cost his side but it was still a good opportunity to extend their lead. If Mahmoud Yousef can improve his weak foot, then he will be even more dangerous in and around the penalty area than he already is, which is a scary thought!
Mahmoud Yousef originally plied his trade in the fourth tier of Israeli football as he started his career at Ahi Acre. Yousef went onto score 12 goals in 49 appearances for his local club in a 3-year spell. Yousef would have one more short spell with a club in Israel, playing 8 times for MS Tzeirey Tamra, scoring 2 before making the journey across the border to play for Shabab Al-Khalil SC, who play in the top tier of Palestinian football. As of the 23rd of August 2017, he still plays for them.
Onto Oday Dabbagh, the 19-Year-Old is 2 years younger than Mahmoud Yousef but has shown he has the natural footballing ability of someone twice their age! Oday Dabbagh has been a star for his nation just like Mahmoud, as shown by his performances at the Asian Games. The teenager has played for Palestine’s senior team on 3 occasions, a 1-0 loss to Oman, a 0-0 draw against Iraq and a 2-0 loss to Kuwait, so sadly he is still waiting for his first victory in the senior national team but if he brings his U23 form then that win will come sooner rather than later, that's for sure.
Dabbagh has been a star at 2 competitions for Palestine’s U23 team as he was the star man for his country as he helped Palestine reach the quarterfinals of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship back in January. The 19-Year-Old scored 3 and assisted 1 in 4 games including a goal and assist in a 5-1 thrashing of Thailand, who finished bottom of the group with 0 points and -6 goal difference thanks to Oday Dabbagh and Palestine’s scintillating performance. Dabbagh plays his football for Jerusalem Hilal who also play in The Palestinian top flight, similarly to Mahmoud Yousef.
The dynamic duo of Mahmoud Yousef and Oday Dabbagh put on a show for the Palestine faithful as they bowed out of the competition a bit earlier than they would have liked but they still made a big name for themselves in one of Asia’s biggest sporting events, so whatever happens in the future for these two great talents, whether its good or bad, they can rest easy knowing that they gave everything they could for their country and did their nation massively proud.