Tuesday, 13 June 2017 | MYT 11:58 PM
Malaysia goes down 1-2 to Lebanon in Asian Cup qualifiers
BY K. RAJAN
Lebanon's Hassan Maatouk tussles for the ball with Malaysia's Nazirul Naim. - ABDUL RAHMAN EMBONG/The Star.
JOHOR BARU: New national coach Eduardo "Nelo" Vingada started out on the wrong foot after the Harimau Malaya were defeated 1-2 by Lebanon in their 2019 Asian Cup Group B qualifying campaign at the Larkin Stadium Tuesday night.
ADVERTISING
Winger Mahali Jasuli put the Harimau Malaya in front in the 43rd minute before Lebanese substitute Rabih Ataya scored a brace in the 79th and last minute of added time for the win.
Lebanon were the dominant side in the first half as Malaysia played a compact game by sitting back and trying to launch counter-attacks.
The Lebanese, who were without striker Mohamad Ghaddar, lacked bite upfront and kept squandering goal-scoring chances.
Malaysia's counter-attacking move finally broke the deadlock as Mahali pounced on a loose ball after Lebanon goalkeeper Mehdi Khalil spilled Ahmad Hazwan Bakri's attempt in the 43rd minute.
The Lebanese regrouped and came back stronger looking for the equaliser in the second half and could have scored sooner if not for the heroics of goalkeeper Khairul Azhan Khalid.
Striker Rabih, who came in for midfielder Mohamad Haidar, added more firepower for Lebanon and made an instant impact.
Rabih clawed his side back into the game with a shot from the left of Malaysia penalty box which sailed past goalkeeper Khairul Azhan.
He was on target again 15 minutes later as he beat the Malaysian defence and placed a shot in the bottom corner of the goal for the winner.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2017/06/13/malaysia-goes-down-1-2-to-lebanon/#HevudL1eCsPvqgGv.99
