AFC Asian Cup 2019 Qualifiers: Maldives 0-3 Palestine

Palestine qualified for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia by winning the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives in 2014, and again found the National Stadium in Male to their liking.

The visitors did have to wait until the 60th minute for Wridat to open the scoring before the midfielder added a second two minutes later.

And Palestine ensured they joined fellow opening day winners Oman at the top of Group D as fellow substitute Ahmad Abu Nahyeh sealed the win in the last minute.

The contest started slowly with a promising cross from Maldives striker Hamzath Mohamed after three minutes failing to find a teammate, while at the other end defender Amdaan Ali had to be alert five minutes later as Palestine pressed.

But it took until two minutes before half-time for the first real chance to arrive as Ali Fasir tried his luck for the Maldives.

The second half, though, was a much livelier affair as Jonathan Cantillana fired wide for Palestine after 51 minutes before Maldives goalkeeper Mohamed Faisal superbly denied the midfielder a minute later after he had evaded two defenders inside the penalty area.

The visitors continued to dominate as the half progressed as defender Abdelatif Bahdari shot wide of the target.

But Palestine were not to be denied on the hour mark as substitute Wridat made space for himself to burst into the area before beating Faisal just three minutes after replacing Mohammed Yameen.

And Wridat added a second just two minutes later after exchanging passes with Yashir Pinto on the edge of the area.

Pinto and Cantillana for Palestine and Shafiu Ahmed for the Maldives then saw shots blocked before Fasir fired wide for the home side twice in quick succession inside the final 15 minutes.

But it was Palestine who finished the match on top as Nahyeh beat Ali on the edge of the area before firing into the back of the net.

Photo: FAM