Road to Qatar 2011 begins

Maldives playing against Yemen in WCQ 2010

Male', MALDIVES - It may have been barely eight months since Iraq’s stunning 2007 AFC Asian Cup triumph but already the qualification road to Qatar 2011 begins when Lebanon take on the Maldives on Wednesday.

The first leg of the double-header takes place in Beirut before the action shifts to the Indian Ocean republic on April 23.

The AFC’s decision to allow the top three sides from the last Asian Cup as well as the winners of the 2008 and 2010 AFC Challenge Cup entry into the next edition of the continental showcase, the number of qualification matches has been dramatically reduced.

This has meant just one preliminary qualifying game will take place with Lebanon and the Maldives meeting for only the second competitive fixture following their 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier back in 2004.

Lebanon ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in the first leg at the Beirut Municipal Stadium and were even more impressive in Male where they took a 5-0 lead before the Maldives struck twice in the last ten minutes to round off an 8-2 aggregate score line.

With Lebanon taking part in the third qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup they have seen more international action than the Maldives in recent months although their results have been poor, with a 1-0 home defeat by Uzbekistan and a 2-0 reverse in Singapore leaving them at the bottom of Group 4.

The Maldives, meanwhile, have not played a competitive international fixture since last October when they were defeated 3-2 on aggregate by Yemen in the second round of South Africa 2010 qualifiers.

Source: The AFC