Palestine will clash with the Philippines for a place in next year's Asian Cup in Australia after both nations advanced to the final of the AFC Challenge Cup in Maldives.
Palestine upset Afghanistan 2-0 and the Philippines ousted hosts Maldives 3-2 in extra-time in the semi-finals played on Tuesday at the National Stadium in capital Male.
The final on Friday at the same venue will lift the champions into the continent's showpiece event Down Under.
Palestine, ranked 165 in the world against Afghanistan's 128, stunned their favoured rivals as Ashraf Al Fawaghra scored two goals on either side of half-time.
Afghanistan failed to impress despite being boosted by the return of three key players who were injured when their team bus was involved in an accident on Saturday.
The win continued Palestine's unbeaten run in the eight-nation tournament, but coach Jamal Mahmoud said the real test lay ahead.
"It is not enough just to be in the final, we need to win it too," Mahmoud said after the match.
"Otherwise all this effort will be of no use."
Afghanistan, who won their first football trophy last September by clinching the South Asian Football Federation title in Nepal, earned praise from their assistant coach Erich Rutemoller despite the defeat.
"No excuses, Palestine deserved to win," he said.
"But I am proud of the way the boys played and tried to create chances. They responded well to the challenge after being shaken by the accident."
Afghan head coach Mohammad Kargar was among those who were injured when the team bus slammed into another vehicle after a motorcyclist crashed into their convoy in the southern city of Addu.
In the other semi-final, the spirited Maldives delighted home fans by coming back twice to draw level before Philip Younghusband scored the winner for the Philippines towards the end of the first session of extra-time.
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