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Asian Games: Palestine advances to knockout round in men's soccer
Group A leader Palestine became the first country to reach the knockout round of the 2018 Asian Games men's soccer tournament after a 1-1 draw with Hong Kong, China, on Friday.
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The 2018 Asian Games logo. (Courtesy of/Inasgoc)
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roup A leader Palestine held second-placed Hong Kong, China, to a 1-1 draw during a soccer match on Friday at Patriot Candrabaga Stadium in Bekasi, West Java, to ensure a spot in the knockout round.
Mahmoud Yousef opened the scores in the 17th minute after receiving an assist from teammate Odday Dabbagh.
Ka Wai Lam scored the equalizer for Hong Kong in the 56th minute.
In the 59th minute, Palestine players called for a penalty for an alleged handball inside Hong Kong's penalty area, but the claim was dismissed by the referee.
In the 73rd minute, a goal from Hong Kong's Jorge Tarres Paramo was ruled offside.
Both sides exchanged attacks for the remainder of the game, but neither team could find the back of the net before referee Takuto Okabe of Japan blew the final whistle.
With the result, Palestine, with eight points, is the first country to qualify for the knockout stages, while Hong Kong, with seven points, only needs a draw against Indonesia in its last match.
Indonesia, which will play its third group game against bottom-placed Laos PDR, is now required to win its two remaining matches to advance to the knockout round. Indonesia will face Hong Kong next Monday.
