Lebanon arrange a semifinal conflict in opposition to hosts India with a 1-0 win over Maldives in a Group B match of the SAFF Championship in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Skipper Hassan Maatouk struck the all-important objective along with his curling freekick within the twenty fourth minute. Lebanon have topped the group with an all-win report within the four-team group. Lebanon will tackle India within the battle for the summit conflict on Saturday. The two groups met just lately within the remaining of the Intercontinental Cup in Bhubaneswar, the place India emerged the winners.

The Maldives, ranked 154 within the FIFA Men’s rankings, had been hoping to punch above its weight by successful in opposition to Lebanon, whom they’ve by no means crushed in beforehand.

Having already sealed their last-four berth, Lebanon head coach Aleksandar Ilic rested a number of of his common gamers together with Karim Darwich.

Lebanon began the match on a constructive notice, holding loads of possession and making an attempt to stretch the Maldives defence.

The impasse was lastly damaged when Lebanon was awarded a free kick a number of metres exterior the penalty field.

Maatouk stepped as much as curl in a right-footed shot previous Maldives custodian Hussain Shareef.

Hussain was left wrong-footed after Hassan’s shot took a deflection and went in.

The Maldives defence had been struggling to deal with Lebanon’s fixed surge throughout this spell.

Hassan Maatouk mixed nicely with Mohamad Sadek and Zein Al Abidine Farran to create havoc within the rival space.

Moments after the primary objective, Lebanon squandered a golden alternative to increase their lead when Mohamad Sadek missed from an in depth vary. He shot nicely over the crossbar following Zein Al Abidine Farran’s sensible move from the best.

Farran created one other alternative for Lebanon as he chipped in a cross from the best to search out Hassan Maatouk however his header lacked energy to beat Hussain Shareef in objective.

Maldives, then again, didn’t have a shot on track and Lebanon goalkeeper Mehdi Khalil was by no means examined.

Lebanon tried to increase their lead within the second half and had it not been for Hussain Shareef underneath the bar, the Maldives would have conceded a number of extra objectives.

He saved two sensible makes an attempt from Ali Al Haj within the second half to maintain the Maldives within the recreation.

The Maldives completed their SAFF Championship marketing campaign with just one win in three matches.

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