- Title: Palestine-Saudi Arabia game ends in scoreless draw
- Date: 15th October 2019
- Summary: AL-RAM, WEST BANK (OCTOBER 15, 2019) (REUTERS) BUS CARRYING THE SAUDI SOCCER TEAM ARRIVING TO FAISAL AL-HUSSEINI STADIUM BUS CARRYING THE PALESTINIAN SOCCER TEAM ARRIVING TO FAISAL AL-HUSSEINI STADIUM AHEAD OF SOCCER GAME CROWD WAITING NEAR GATE TO ENTER THE STADIUM PEOPLE GATHERING INSIDE STADIUM, SEEN THROUGH RAILINGS VARIOUS OF CHILD CARRYING PALESTINIAN FLAG AT STADIUM VARIOUS OF SPECTATORS WAITING FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE MATCH NEWS CONFERENCE WITH SAUDI ARABIA NATIONAL TEAM COACH, HERVE RENARD (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAUDI ARABIA NATIONAL TEAM COACH, HERVE RENARD, SAYING: "We knew before the game it would be a very difficult game (PAUSE FOR TRANSLATION). And it was a difficult game (PAUSE FOR TRANSLATION). Palestine met with Pakistan last month so they were very confident, and for of course this historic game, they wanted to beat Saudi Arabia." SAUDI ARABIA AND FIFA FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAUDI ARABIA NATIONAL TEAM COACH, HERVE RENARD, SAYING: "So we were stronger defensively but not good offensively." BANNER READING (English): "FIFA WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 QUALIFIERS" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINE NATIONAL TEAM COACH, NOUREDDINE OULD ALI, SAYING: "We thought that we would have 10-15 chances in this game. We were not controlling the whole game, nor the ball as we had expected. We were supposed to have 2-3 goals at least but we missed many times. This is soccer. We had a bitter lesson." MORE OF NEWS CONFERENCE AL-RAM, WEST BANK (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN SECURITY FORCES STANDING WHILE CONVOY OF THE SAUDI TEAM ARRIVE TO STADIUM FOR TRAINING VARIOUS OF SAUDI TEAM MEMBERS TRAINING VARIOUS OF COACH KICKING BALL TOWARD THE GOAL KEEPERS AS PART OF TRAINING FAISAL AL-HUSSEINI STADIUM PICTURES OF PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS AND LATE PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT, AND PICTURES SAUDI KING SALMAN AND SAUDI CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN VARIOUS OF SAUDI TEAM PLAYERS TRAINING
- Embargoed: 29th October 2019 17:58
- Keywords: soccer Saudi team Palestine soccer team West Bank FIFA 2022 world cup Qatar
- Location: AL-RAM, WEST BANK
- City: AL-RAM, WEST BANK
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001B17L9VR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Saudi Arabia and Palestine national teams drew 0-0 in their first West Bank game on Tuesday (October 15), a 2022 World Cup qualifier.
Cheered on by a packed home stadium, the Palestinian team came close multiple times but both sides were not able to make a breakthrough.
The match, which was held in the Faisal al-Husseini Stadium, is also a qualifier for the 2023 Asian Cup in China.
The game marks a change in Saudi policy, which previously played matches against the Palestinian team in a third-party countries, in line with long Arab boycott to Israel.
The 0-0 result means Uzbekistan leads the qualifying group with six points from three games, while Saudi Arabia is second with five points. Palestine and Singapore have four points each.
(Production: Saed Hawari, Adel Abu Nemeh, Mohamad Torokman,Roleen Tafakji, Suheir Sheikh) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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