Lebanon, currently on top of Group B, has six points from two matches. The Cedars can confirm a berth in the semifinals if they beat the Maldives in their final group match.
Lebanon will disaccord against the Maldives in its final Group B clash of the 2023 SAFF Championship at the Kanteerava Stadium then on Wednesday.
Lebanon, presently on top of its group, won both its matches against Bangladesh and Bhutan, independently. With six points from two matches, the Cedars can confirm a situation in the semifinals if they beat the Maldives in their final group match.
The Cedars will start against the Maldives as the clear favourites but head trainer Aleksandar Ilic will remind his platoon not to get perfunctory.
In its last match against Bhutan, Lebanon was cruising with a 4- 0 palm. But, it took its bottom off the pedal, and Bhutan scored a late consolation thing, which irked Ilic on the touchlines.
“In the first half (against Bhutan), we were aggressive. At half- time, I told the boys to stay serious, but they (Bhutan) scored a thing in the alternate- half, ” Ilic said after the last match.
Maldives is on three points from two matches. It suffered a 3- 1 loss against Bangladesh in its last match, and the Red Snappers find them selves in a tricky position heading into their final group- stage match.
They’re third in the table, equal on points with alternate- placed Bangladesh, with the ultimate being on top by virtue of head- to- head.
Maldives head trainer Francesco Moreiro didn’t shy down from expressing his dissatisfaction with his platoon’s performance after the loss against Bangladesh.
Apologising to the people of Maldives for the loss, Moreiro stormed out of the post-match press conference and refused to take any questions.
Lebanon has a 100 palm record against the Maldives, having beaten it on all four former occasions.
Pakistan had a better launch in the alternate half, creating a chance in the 48th nanosecond – a long ball inside the Nepal box caught its backline napping.
Nabi’s title set up Otis Khan, who went for a bike kick but the trouble was straight at Kiram Kumar Limbu, who caught the ball without fuss.
Nepal, on the other hand, came closest to scoring in the 68th nanosecond from a freekick after Limbu was brought down by Mohammad Umar Hayat just outside the box on the left wing.
But Devendra Tamang’s shot, well on target, swerved skyline and beat the Pakistan keeper, but rather of rattling the net, crashed against the bar.
Nepal trainer Vincenzo Alberto Annese prompted his platoon to move up the pitch and choke the Pakistan backline, and the pressure eventually paid off in the 80th nanosecond.
Limbu, getting the ball just outside the Pakistan box, set up cover Chaudhary, who went for a first- time trouble on the blitz. Though the shot was low and not the strongest but ever it crept outside the net, past a diving Butt. Know More Latest Football News…
