When Saudi Arabia played in Jerusalem

Palestine against Saudi Arabia is everything you wish for when you decide to watch a Middle Eastern football match.

A crowd of around 17,000 people gathered outside of the Faisal Husseini Stadium in Al-Ram, as 2,000 already entered and started to create the atmosphere.

Tamer Seyam and Abdallah Jaber in action. (Photo: BabaGol)

It was the first rain of the Jerusalemite autumn, and it was hot. Very hot. Around 33 degrees, a number that could be a record high for the season. The air was electrifying. Buses, service taxis, fans and private cars driving on each other. The stress in the entrances was colossal. People stepped over each other, trying to get their touch in the most historical match the West Bank and Palestine, as a nation, has ever witnessed.

The 2022 World Cup qualification is the first time ever that a Saudi team is playing in the Palestinian territories in an official sports competition. In the previous edition of the World Cup qualifications, in 2015, the Saudis refused to come and play in Al-Ram. Then they claimed it as an act of 'normalisation with Israel', as the latter is the one who controls parts of the West Bank security-wise since 1967.

Even if they still believe the game is a compromise with the Israeli presence in the Palestinians' lives, the Saudis had no choice this time, after the UAE, Iraq, Oman and Raja Casablanca have showed up for official matches in the West Bank since 2015.

Hattan Bahbri waiting to take a corner at Faisal Husseini Stadium (Photo: BabaGol)

The match started with great anticipation and great atmosphere in the stands. "Allah, Filastin, Al-Quds Arabiya", the fans chanted in the terraces to each other ("God, Palestine, Jerusalem is Arab").

In 2015 Palestine hosted the UAE, who came with its golden generation - Omar Abdulrahman, Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil. The Palestinians held the gulf stars in a great battle and gained a 0-0.

Tuesday's clash between Palestine Saudi Arabia was almost the same, just much more festive.

Saudi Arabia started the match with a firm possession, yet the Palestinians didn't give up and slowly but carefully took over the game. Chances by Saleh Shehadeh, Nazmi Al-Badawi and Islam Al-Bitran almost went in and together with the vibrant atmosphere it felts like the whole stadium was moving.

The first half ended in a 0-0 draw, with great saves by goalkeeper Rami Hamadeh that kept his excellent form in the national team.

The second half kicked off and was in direct continuous to the first. Palestine kept attacking and threatening Saudi goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Owais' goal but wasn't accurate enough. Hattan Bahbri, Yahia Al-Shehri and Yasser Al-Shahrani - all tried to find the Palestinian defence unprepared, but Abdelatif Al-Bahadary, the Fidai's captain, was ready to clear every ball they sent towards Palestine's box.

In the last moments of the game, Abdallah Jaber and Tamer Seyam attempted to achieve the much-anticipated goal for Palestine, but eventually, the Saudis stood well, and the match ended in a goalless draw.

So the most covered visit of a national team to Palestine has come to an end, but the situation in Group D of the Asian qualifiers is getting very complicated. Saudi Arabia may have won against Singapore, but drew against Yemen and Palestine. "I'm not worried at all", said Herve Renard, the French coach of Saudi Arabia, in the press conference. When asked about the stress there is as the coach of the Green Falcons, Renard said that "Saudi fans are not stupid, they know when a coach is faking and when he is doing a good job", he added and concluded: "We will finish first place in this group. Easily."

Whether Saudi Arabia will finish first or not, this 0-0 in Al-Ram will never be forgotten. The day the modest Fidai held one of the biggest brands in the Arab sports world. Maybe, just maybe, it could be the day that helped the Palestinians.