Lebanon national football team arrived in Tehran on Saturday missing 7 players due to either suspensions or injury. Lebanon who is already eliminated from the FIFA World Cup competition is playing its final match against Team Melli in Azadi on Tuesday. The Lebanese team and football is in turmoil due to the bribery scandals that hit the national team players and some clubs taking part in official competition. Several players and officials have been handed severe suspension , including life for accepting bribes and selling matches, including the two FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Qatar.

Despite such circumastances, the new look Lebanses team gallantly fought against the mighty Koreans in Beirut last Tuesady. Lebanon was one goal ahead until deep in the stoppage time awarded by the AUstralian referee. Korea eventually scored in th 97th minute from a free kick which took a deflection and wrong footed the star of the match , Lebanon’s goalkeeper Abbas Hassan.

Attempts by the Lebanese football federation to register the 20 years old upcoming star Soony Saad, an American Lebanese who is currently playing for the MLS team Sporting Kansas City has failed and hence he will be illegible to play against Iran. The promising youngster already made his debut for Lebanon against Oman, in a friendly game on May 29, 2013. Saad scored in his debut.

The absent players for Lebanon are: Abbas Atwi, Mohammed Yusif, Mohammed Haydar, Waleed Ismael, Bilal Najarin, Ali Hammam,and Amer Khan. The German coach of Lebanon had to call some new players in replacement and announced an 18 players squad to Tehran as follows:

[button-orange text=”Goalkeepers” ]

Abbas HASSAN [IF Elfsborg (SWE)] , Lary MEHANNA [AlAnsar] , Mehdi KHALIL [AlSafaa]

[button-orange text=”Defenders” ]

Mootaz JOUNAIDI [AlAnsar], Nour MANSOUR [AlSafaa] ,  Mohammad ZAIN TAHHAN [AlSafaa], Hussein AWADA [AlAhd], Mohammed HAMOOD [AlAnsar], Hassan DHAHER [Shabab AlSahel]

[button-orange text=”Midfield” ]

Abbas Ahmad ATWI [AlAhd], Nader MATAR [ACD Canillas (ESP)], Mohamad ATWI [AlAnsar], Mouhamad CHAMASS [AlNajma],  Hamza SALAMAH [AlSafaa]

[button-orange text=”Forwards” ]

Hassan MAATOUK [AlShabab (UAE)] , Hassan CHAITO [AlAhd], Fayez CHAMSINE [AlIjtimaei], Mahmoud KOJOK [AlAnsar],

Iran first match against Lebanon was not played until 1996.  Lebanon had always been one of the lessor footballing nations of the Middle East. Predominantly a Basketball following nation , Lebanon only emerged in the highlights in the last few years. The beating boy of the ares suddenly started to raise eyebrows with some stunning results including the defeat of the stronger and more established neighboring Arab nations , but more significantly was defeating two of Asia football powerhouses, Korea Republic and Iran. The two former Asian Cup winners fell victims to the Lebanese.

In the head to head with Team Melli , Lebanon registered one win only and the rest was simply more like drubbing exercise , including the last meeting in Tehran when the Lebanese left packing with five goals in arrears.

Ali Daei remain the top scorer with 6 goals, Nekounam is currently 2nd with 4 but could  very well exceed the record of Daei.

[table “6” not found /]