Lebanon hits four against Maldives

Lebanese Captain scoring their third of tha day from the spot

Male', MALDIVES - Lebanon almost put them in 2011 Asian cup qualifying stage by easily outclassing Maldives in the home game of qualifying preliminary stage game. The Middle East netted four goals in the first half to kill the hopes of the away team.

Lebanon, who lost their WCQ game against Singapore, took only five minutes to break the deadlock through Mahmoud El Ali and six minutes later they even doubled the lead with a perfect strike from Ali Yakoub.

A minute later they were awarded a penalty for Assad’s foul and Abbas Atwi made no mistake. Five minutes before half time Mohammad Ghaddar scored their fourth of the day.

Promising striker Ali Ashfaag was substituted in the 35th minute of the game and Ismail Mohamed was introduced instead. Another substitution was made eight minutes before full time, by replacing Shinaz Hilmy with Mohamed Arif (Bakaa). Mohamed Jameel, Shinaz Hilmy and Ali Umar were yellow carded in the game.

Maldives coach Joseph Jankech and his assistant Mohamed Shiyaz (Mohan) travelled to Singapore to see Lebanon’s World Cup qualifying game and after the game coach Jankech revealed the strength of his next opponent.

“Though they (Lebanon) lost the game against Singapore, they played really well” Jankech said in the last new conference held before leaving to Lebanon.

“So we will try to attack when we get the ball and when we lost the possession we will try to defend”

After the game team manager Shah Ismail said to maldivesoccer.com, some silly mistakes cost them the goals and Lebanon is not a team they cannot defeat.

“They are not a team we cannot defeat, we should be able beat them in Male’”Shah said

“We made very silly mistakes and allowed them to score”

“Ashfaag was substituted for a knee injury, he is icing the knee at the moment so we don’t know how serious it is right now” the former national team captain added.

Now Maldives has to win the next game in Male’ by at least 4-0 to take the game into extra time or by 5-0 to win in normal time. The score line will become much harder for Maldives if Lebanon scored in Male’.

Maldives’ last meeting against Lebanon came in the 2006 World Cup qualifying stage, Lebanon won the home game by 3-0 and the returning leg by 5-2.

Maldives starting line up against Lebanon:

Imran Mohamed, Mohamed Shifan, Ibrahim Fazeel, Akram Abdul Ghanee, Ali Umar, Ali Ashfaag, Assad Abdul Ghanee, Shinaz Hilmy, Mohamed Jameel, Sobah Mohamed, Ahmed Saeed.