Futsal Planet

Lebanon vs Palestine

OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

by James Stringer from Tripoli

With everything at stake in this final game of the group stages a whole load of scenarios could have unfolded today but t was Lebanon who booked their place in the second round with an impressive display of attacking play that Palestine just couldn’t cope with.
It was Palestine who came out of the traps the more determined to get something from this game as a win for them and a win for Turkey could have secured second round entrance and they were unlucky not to take the lead as Alikkawi Eid shot wide in the opening minutes.

After that the game swayed from one side to the next with Kawsan Kassem hitting the post from a counter attack. The determination was clear to see form Palestine as Abudan Ihsan blocked a goal ward shot with his face, he had to be replaced and shortly after his departure Takaji Khaled has a shot thats tipped over the bar by Sbeheen Basel. It was all Palestine after that as Hajaj Mohammed and Alikkawi Eid both have chances for Palestine only to be denied by some great saves from Askadjian Sarkis to deny them.

The first goal of the game came from Lebanon after some neat midfield play the ball found it’s way to Atwi Hayssam who smashed it into the back of the net. It took less than 30 seconds for Lebanon to increase their lead as Takaji Khaled latches onto a pass and smashes it towards goal, the keeper got a hand to it but on keeper was going keep that one out as Lebanon doubled their lead.
Total heartbreak for Palestine came minutes later as Kawsan Kassem’s shot trickled under Sbeheen Basel and into the back of the net, unlucky for the keeper but it’s not the first time we’ve seen that kind of goal at this tournament. Shortly after we have a dubious free kick decision go against Palestine and Lebanon counter attack quickly, the ball is fed to Chaito Hassan who crosses it to Itani Mahmoud and all he had to do was tap it into an empty net. Chaito Hassan hit the post after some great play from Lebanon, they seemed to have Palestine on the back foot until they scored what proved to be their only goal of the game. It came after some nice play down the right hand side, the ball found it’s way to Altalmas Zeyad on the left and he hammers one into the back of the net from 8 yards.

Lebanon came out fighting after that and when the ball came out to Chaito Hassan on the left, he seemed to have all the time in the world to smash that one past Sbeheen Basel. Palestine didn’t slow down at all and Alhelou Anas pounced on a weak bit of defensive play from Lebanon, but his toe poke went just wide. With defensive mistakes happening at both end it was Lebanon who capitalised as the Palestine defence switched off and Atwi Hayssam had a shot which was parried by the keeper but only as far as Hammoud Ibrahim who smacked it past the Sbeheen Basel only for the ball to be cleared off the line, Hammoud Ibrahim was there though and stroked it into the back of the unguarded net to make it 6 – 1 at half time.

The second half was started brightly by 2 players, Alikkawi Eid and Takaji Khaled, who both had shooting chances. Takaji Khaled proved why he was Futsal Planets MVP be demonstrating some Lovely solo play down the left that eventually brought him inside and he cracked one just over the bar. Shortly after that he hammered a shot that bounced off both posts and into the back of the net. Fadel Jean smashed one into an unguarded net after the Albattrawi Hussein maked a smart first save but couldn’t recover in time to stop the next shot. Itani Mahmoud piled a shot through the Palestine defence to make it 9 – 1 to Lebanon and you started to get the feeling that wanted to rack up an impressive score.

Alikkawi Eid missed a glorious chance for Palestine as he struck wide of an open goal from a lovely flowing move but quickly afterwards Bou Chakra Jihad found the net for Lebanon as they continued the rout here at the African Union Stadia. Itani Mahmoud missed a 10m penalty and then Hajaj Mohammed was booked for Palestine to set up Itani Mahmoud to make amends for his earlier miss. This time he made no mistake and hammered it past the keeper. The game eventually ended with a 10m penalty Askadjian Sarkis, we had a keeper vs keeper moment and the Lebanese keeper smashed it against the post. A counter attack was launched by Palestine but in the end it was all too late and it ended with a 10 – 1 victory for Lebanon, they progress into the second round and Takaji Khaled had this to say. “I thank god for the win, we had more experience than Palestine and we know how to control the game and that’s how we won today”.

Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com