The question now will turn to whether Hong Kong can keep hold of Andersen for the long term after their first appearance in these finals since 1968. The Norwegian has created a daring, dashing team who have generated a buzz around Hong Kong football.

How all this can be maintained will be addressed in the coming days and weeks. On this night of nights for the national team, however, when only victory would maintain last-16 hopes, Hong Kong could not replicate the ferocious intensity from performances against United Arab Emirates and Iran that, to use the words of defender Vas Nunez, “showed a small city … can turn up in the big games”.

Their final act in Qatar was a penalty slammed against the bar by Everton Camargo deep into time added on.

Nunez had damaged his shoulder in an innocuous aerial challenge and left the field on a stretcher after 25 minutes. He watched downcast from the bench, his arm in a sling, as Hong Kong’s dreams slipped away.

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Philip Chan Siu-kwan’s sliding tackle to conclusively halt Mahmoud Abuwarda’s early rush down the left was met with a guttural roar from those decked in red. But after Camargo was wayward with a free-kick from 22-yards, Palestine set the tone for the night.

Mussab al-Battat, the impressive full-back, sped down the right, with Matt Orr struggling to keep pace.

Oday Dabbagh climbed above Yue Tze-nam – a physical mismatch – to meet the lofted delivery with a downward header that sent the ball leaping off the turf and high into the net beyond Tse Ka-wing’s extended left hand.

Dabbagh’s radar was off after being released down the left by Abuwarda’s lobbed pass, and Abuwarda similarly missed to the left of Tse’s goal with a shot from an angle.

Those opportunities sandwiched a pair of openings for Hong Kong, both created by Michael Udebuluzor, making his first start of the tournament. Philip Chan’s attempted curler from 10 yards was wild, before Camargo delayed and allowed a defender to deflect his shot behind.

Andersen, observing all this parked on a white, plastic fold-up seat in front of his dugout, raged at Udebuluzor when a ball from the back travelled into no-man’s land.

Tse, playing ahead of Yapp Hung-fai, saved brilliantly at close quarters after Li Ngai-hoi, on for Nunez, got in a tangle trying to deal with Seyam’s low cross to present Dabbagh with a fabulous opportunity.

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The sight of eight red shirts tearing back towards their own goal at full pelt when Palestine countered after clearing a Shinchi Chan throw was illustrative of both Hong Kong’s increasing struggle to match their opponents, and the hunger and fight instilled by Andersen.

But three minutes after half-time, Hong Kong were left needing three goals to advance. Al-Battat was the source once more, delivering from the right.

Zeid Qunbar nipped in front of Oliver Gerbig, and profited from a stroke of fortune when he attempted to connect with his head. The ball struck Qunbar’s shoulder and scooted beyond a helpless Tse for the forward’s first international goal.

Shinichi Chan’s long throw was flicked on by Orr soon after, but Philip Chan headed past the post. And Hong Kong’s race was run on the hour.

The fast and powerful Seyam thudded the bar from 18 yards, and Dabbagh reached the rebound ahead of Yue to skilfully control his finish into an empty net.

Andersen sent for the cavalry, sacrificing midfield workhorses Philip Chan and Wu Chun-ming to get Wong Wai and Juninho on the pitch.

Stefan Pereira soon followed, but the narrative by now was one of Palestine trying to boost their goal difference to leapfrog UAE into Group C’s second place.

They could not take any of a number of chances, before Camargo struck the woodwork with his VAR-awarded penalty following Al-Battat’s blameless handball at close distance from Juninho’s cross.

Palestine’s reward for the nation’s first Asian Cup finals win is a date with either hosts Qatar or Australia.

Hong Kong must wait for their first victory in the tournament after 13 attempts. Thoughts now turn to how they make sure they do not have to wait 56 years for another go.