Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Muscat: Two second-half Alexis Khazzaka goals saw Lebanon make a positive start to their 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualifying campaign, with the Middle Eastern side coming from a goal down to defeat the Maldives 2-1 in their Group A opener on Monday.
Skipper Mohamed Irufaan gave the Maldives the perfect start when he opened the scoring just four minutes into Monday’s match at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex but the Indian Ocean islanders were unable to build on their early opener as Khazzaka turned the tide of the contest in favour of Lebanon.
Khazzaka drew Lebanon level in the 65th minute before the France-born midfielder, who has already represented the Cedars at senior level having come on as a substitute for the final eight minutes of a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan, scored the winner against the Maldives with 11 minutes remaining.
Lebanon will be looking to build on their victory in their next Group A match on Wednesday when they take on 2013 AFC U-22 Championship champions Iraq while the Maldives will try to get their campaign back on track when they face Bahrain, who drew 1-1 with hosts Oman in the earlier match at the same venue, on the same day.
Ten group winners and five best second-placed teams from all groups will join hosts Qatar at the AFC U-23 Championship 2016, with January’s 16-team competition also serving as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio.