DILI, East Timor — East Timor, the team jokingly dubbed “Little Samba Nation” for all the Brazilians on its roster, fielded seven naturalized players against Palestine in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on Thursday but managed only a 1-1 tie.
East Timor took the lead in the 54th minute on a headed goal from Ramon Saro, a center back born in Minas Gerais, one of Brazil’s most populous states. Saro made his debut for the East Timor national team in 2012, the same year that saw him move from a club in Brazil’s second division to one in the Timorese capital of Dili.