After an even start, UAE suffered a setback in the 34th minute when they were reduced to 10 players following Solomon Sosu’s red card.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, UAE broke the deadlock in the sixth minute of added time through Eid Al Hammadi.

The Emiratis continued to apply pressure and doubled their advantage a minute after the restart with Anthony Khayat dribbling from the left flank and then cutting inside to drill the ball into the back of the net with Ghaith Bader making it 3-0 in the 51st minute.

Lebanon refused to give up and reduced the deficit through Joe Khawaja in the second minute of added time with Mohamad Kassas then netting their second a minute later.

However, that was as far as Lebanon got as UAE held on for the points with the West Asian side to face Northern Mariana Islands next on Monday. Lebanon will aim to revive their campaign against Kuwait on Wednesday. 

Kuwait raced off the blocks, taking the lead in the first minute through Eid Al Ruqbah (pictured below) before Turki Alyousef doubled their advantage five minutes later.

The West Asians continued to dominate and extended their lead with Yosef Alshammari netting a brace in the 10th and 17th minutes to take a healthy advantage into the break.

Northern Mariana Islands’ hopes of finding their way back were erased after Kuwait’s Alyousef showed his class to score in the 49th minute before completing his hat-trick in the 53rd minute.