Lebanon defeated Bangladesh 2-0 in today’s opening Group B match of the SAFF Championship at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, India.
Hassan Maatouk, a substitute midfielder, broke the impasse in the 79th minute after a misplaced pass in the middle third left two Lebanon forwards with only Anisur Rahman Zico to defeat.
In the final minutes of the contest, Lebanon’s striker Khalil Bader scored the game-winning goal.Bangladesh performed significantly better in the second half after coach Javier Cabrera made three substitutions a few minutes before the hour mark.
Prior to conceding the goal, the men in red and green had a golden opportunity through the right flank when Faisal Ahmed Fahim was in on goal but could only shoot direct at the custodian.
Overall, Lebanon’s performance reflected the disparity in rankings (93) between the two teams, as they created far more chances and dominated possession.