Syria send Lebanon packing

India coach Bob Houghtons calculations when he arrived at the Ambedkar Stadium on Wednesday featured Lebanon and Sri Lanka.

India coach Bob Houghtons calculations when he arrived at the Ambedkar Stadium on Wednesday featured Lebanon and Sri Lanka. By the time he left,the Syrians had removed their neighbours from Indias path with a 1-0 victory. In the process,they also booked for themselves one of the final two berths in the Nehru Cup,collecting all nine points available from their first three matches.

The proceedings had passing glimpses of the historical football rivalry between the two countries,but also showed the difference between the 95th-ranked Syrians and their opponents,stranded 53 places behind.

Lebanon didnt quite look like playing to survive and the mighty Syrians,after a few customary cautious glances,sneaked in the winner in the 24th minute. After collecting a loose ball from Lebanon goalkeeper Elias Freije,midfielder Wael Ayan stormed in from the left and gave the ball some air towards his right. Hassan Maatouk watched the cross going past him and stopped to get the off-side trap into play,but the error awaited punishment from striker Mohamad Alzino,who blasted it into the right corner of the net.

Lebanon couldnt recover from the early strike. Coach Emile Roustom had strengthened his arsenal with Akram Moghrabi,who joined regular strikers Mohmoud El Ali and Maatouk to open up the Syrian defence,but couldnt combine to challenge the Syrian skipper and goalkeeper Mosab Balhous.

They came closest to scoring in the first half when El Ali found Moghrabi at the left inside Syrias box,but the angle was too challenging.

Appeals denied

Lebanons best chance,coming after the break,had Maatouk and El Ali combining for a one-on-one opening for the former. Sensing danger,Balhous rushed forward and the collision saw Maatouk lying flat on the ground and his team mates screaming for a spot kick. The referee didnt agree to what looked like a genuine appeal and Syria coach,Fajer Ibrahim,didnt take any further chances.

The Syrian midfield moved back and the frustration showed. El Ali and opposite defender Alaa Alshbli shared a few words after a tackle and the strikers behaviour with the referee invited the attention of his team officials,and probably deserved a card too. The referee extended his leniency but couldnt save himself from the Lebanon coachs glare. I never like criticising match officials,but I think the referee didnt deserve to be in the middle today. I dont want to watch his picture all my life, Roustom said.

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Why Lebanons Mohammad Ghaddar,the AFC Cup 2007s golden boot winner,didnt get more than 25 minutes in the tournament and first goalkeeper Lary Mehanna was left out of this crucial tie,were the questions that were left unanswered though. Their exit left smiles on the Indian faces as Sri Lanka will need a big victory against Kyrgyzstan on Friday to cover up the goal difference of seven and then hope that India lose to Syria.

If one is to believe the Syrian coachs words,the hosts may take Lanka out of the equation too. The India match is going to be a casual run-up to the final. Our players need to rest, Ibrahim said.

Fridays match: Kyrgyzstan vs Sri Lanka