The Lebanese national football advanced to the final round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday despite a 2-4 loss to the UAE.

 

The Lebanese national football advanced to the final round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday despite a 2-4 loss to the UAE.

Lebanon needed a tie or a victory against the UAE to guarantee qualification to the next round for the first time in its history.

South Korea also made it through to the final round of qualifiers after defeating Kuwait 2-0.

The UAE opened the score sheet after a free kick by Bashir Saeed in the 21st minute.

Lebanon soon equalized after striker Mahmoud al-Ali scored in the 22nd minute.

The visitors’ joy was short-lived however when the UAE scored in the 38th minute through Ali al-Weheibi.

Lebanon rallied however and managed to level the score right before half time through Hassan Maatouq.

In the second half however, the UAE exposed flaws in the Lebanese defense in set pieces, scoring two goals in the 68th and the 79th minutes.

Lebanon joins South Korea, Japan, Australia, Uzbekistan, Oman, Iraq, and Jordan in the final round.

Lebanon’s line-up included Abbas Hassan, Walid Ismail, Bilal Najarin, Youssef Mohammed, Ramez Dioub, Abbas Atweh, Haitham Faour, Mohammed Shamas, Ahmed Zureik, Mahmoud al-Ali, and Hassan Maatouq.

In addition to the massive Lebanese crowd, the game was watched at the stadium by Minister of Youth and Sports Faisal Karami and MPs Sami Gemayel, Ali Bazzi, Simon Abi Ramia, and Nadim Gemayel.

The final round of qualifications is expected to take place later this year.