Palestine scored its first-ever Asian Cup goal yesterday in a 5-1 loss to Jordan. 

Palestine midfielder Jaka Hbaisha converted a set piece in the 85th minute to the roars of almost 10,000 Palestine fans in Melbourne’s rectangular stadium. It plays its final match of the tournament against Iraq on Tuesday in Canberra.

They looked the more organised early in the match but it was Jordan that made the breakthrough in the 33rd minute when midfielder Yousef Ahmad Mohammad gathered a Hamza Aldaradreh pass in the area and sent a long, curving strike into the top corner of the net.

“We lost because we didn’t score in the first half or 25 minutes,” Palestine coach Ahmed Al Hassan said. “Then (we conceded) two goals in two minutes.”

Aldaradreh went on to score four goals, becoming just the fourth player to score four goals in an Asian Cup match.

The victory leaves Jordan second in the group but joint on points with Iraq who are third. Palestine exit the tournament after back-to-back losses.

Jordan coach Ray Wilkins said after the game that Aldaradreh’s four goals caused him a major selection decision for the next match.

“Now Hamza’s given me a horrible bloody headache that I have to try to sort out,” the former England midfielder said. “Nevertheless I’m delighted for him and I’m delighted for the lads as well.

“I felt the score line was a little bit heavy in our favor if I’m perfectly honest. They had a number of chances and Amer Shafi made some very good saves for us. 

“I think defensively, both sides would not have been as happy as they were offensively.”

For Jordan, preparations will now start for its final group match against tournament favorite Japan in Melbourne.

“We play in four days’ time, so once we get back I’ll take a look at the video and we’ll see the end of the Japanese game and we’ll see where we go from there,” Wilkins said.