Saida: United Arab Emirates gave their AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar campaign a much-needed shot in the arm, defeating Lebanon 1-0 thanks to a late Ali Mabkhout penalty on Tuesday.
Lebanon had the edge in terms of chances but couldn’t make any of them count before the UAE’s prolific front man converted from 12 yards in the 85th minute at an empty Saida Municipal Stadium.
The result ends a five-match winless run for Bert van Marwijk’s side and temporarily lifts them above Lebanon and third in Group A, keeping their chances for a playoff spot very much alive with four matches remaining.
Still hurting from Thursday’s last gasp defeat to Islamic Republic of Iran, Lebanon began strongly, with Mohamad Kdouh firing narrowly over the crossbar from 25 yards with their best early effort.
The visitors had the lion’s share of possession, but Lebanon’s cutting edge made them the better side in attack and they nearly got the goal their play had merited just before half-time, with Rabih Ataya’s free-kick turned against the crossbar by Ali Khasief before Mouhammed Ali Dhaini saw his follow-up header cleared off the goal-line.
Goalless at the interval, the Emiratis benefitted from another goal-line clearance early in the second half with the dangerous Ataya’s curling corner kick chested clear by Bandar al Ahbabi when it appeared to be curling just inside the far post.
Lebanon increasingly found joy from their ability to press the visitors high up the pitch, with the UAE players forced into several possession errors as their struggle to create chances of their own continued, with Mabkhout firing a header wide from point blank when Al Ahbabi did manage to breach the Lebanese defence in the 70th minute.
But the Emiratis best chance came in the dying stages, with Sebastian Tagliabue fouled in the penalty area, and Mabkhout shrugged off an otherwise quiet outing by easing the subsequent spot-kick home with five minutes remaining.
Lebanon’s Kassem El Zein went within inches of salvaging a point with an 89th minute header, but Ivan Haaek’s side were left to rue a second last gasp defeat in as many matches and UAE celebrated three priceless points on the Road to Qatar.
