AFC Asian Qualifiers
Son struck in the 16th minute to cancel out Qunbar’s opener from four minutes earlier as the Koreans remained unbeaten in the group, with the result moving Hong Myung-bo’s side onto 14 points from six matches.
Palestine, who also drew with the Koreans in the nations’ opening game of the third phase of qualifying in Seoul in September, remain bottom of the standings with Makram Daboub’s side picking up their third point of the campaign.
The Koreans suffered an early setback when Kim Min-jae’s under-hit back pass was picked up by Qunbar, the striker sliding in to prevent Jo Hyeon-woo gathering the ball before turning quickly to roll his shot into the empty net.
It took the visitors only four minutes to respond, however. Lee Myung-jae’s ball infield found Lee Jae-sung and his pass through the legs of Ameed Mahajneh was collected by Son, and he made no mistake with a calm right foot finish.
Son threatened again on the half-hour mark, the Tottenham Hotspur forward thumping his free kick from 25 yards toward the Palestine goal, but Rami Hamada was equal to the task as he dropped to the left to push the ball to safety.
The Korean captain saw another effort blocked before he shot straight into the arms of Hamada from the edge of the area as the half drew to a close with Palestine holding out until the interval without conceding a second.
Hamada denied Son again three minutes into the second half, palming the ball away, while Hwang In-beom snatched at his effort, his shot clipping the top of the crossbar from eight yards out.
The Korean pressure intensified and Lee Kang-in’s 56th minute effort was deflected wide after a cleverly worked corner although the Palestinians presented a danger on the counter through Oday Dabbagh, who blazed his shot over the bar from inside the penalty area.
Son put the ball in the Palestinian net with 11 minutes remaining only for play to be called back after the forward had strayed marginally offside to deny the 32-year-old a 52nd international goal as the teams shared the points.
Korea Republic will host Oman in March while Palestine play Jordan away.
