SAFF Championship 2023: Lebanon qualified for the Semi-Finals after demolishing Bhutan by 4-1

Lebanon scored 4 goals against Bhutan in the first half and secured their spot in the Semi-Finals of the 2023 SAFF Championship. They didn't get any more in the second half while Bhutan returned with one but that was enough to confirm the qualification. Bhutan were shown nowhere in the game in the first half. They were completely outclassed and if Lebanon would be clinical then the scoreline would be much worse for Bhutan. After this loss, Bhutan are now officially out of the tournament while Lebanon will face Maldives in the last game of the group stage.

Read Also: SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog, news, Live Updates, and Match Report

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Lebanon Match Report

First half:

Lebanon made themselves clear right from the start of the match. They didn't allow Bhutan to drop their game plan. Lebanese players just went on and on and on. They kept on attacking and completely destroyed the backline of Bhutan. Lebanon scored 4 times in the first half and that was enough to qualify for the semis. If Lebanon would be clinical then the scoreline would be much worse for Bhutan.

Sadek opened the scoring after just 11 minutes into the game. He gave the start that Lebanon were looking for after a frustrating victory against Bangladesh in their first game. Ali Al haj doubled the score in the 23rd minute and it was the moment Bhutan lost their hopes. In the 35th minute, they came up with another one and before the half time, another blow. The first half ended with a 4-0 scoreline which could be 6-0 or 7-0 if they would be more clinical.

Second half:

Lebanon couldn't score any goal in the second half and it went really frustrating for them. They kept on attacking the opposition and created a lot of opportunities but couldn't score any. Bhutan's players were looking hopeless but Chencho fought like a lone warrior. He came up with a goal in the 79th minute which was pretty much a consolation for his side. Lebanon took a total of 26 shots which is a huge number in itself. There were some half chances also but they would be unhappy after their second-half performance, especially after their first-half performance. Lebanon gathered the three points and qualified for the Semi-Finals. But before that, they still have to play against the Maldives.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | Lineups

Bhutan:

• TSHERING DENDUP
• KARMA SHEDRUP TSHERING
• SHERUB DORJI
• TENZIN NORBU
• CHIMI TSHEWANG
• DORJI.
• CHENCHO GYELTSHEN
• KINGA WANGCHUK
• DAWA TSHERING
• NIMA WANGDI
• TSHELTHRIM NAMGYEL

Lebanon:

• ANTOINE KNAIER ALDOUAIHY
• MOUHAMMED ALI DHAINI
• MAXIME AOUN
• MAHDI ZEIN
• HUSSEIN ZEIN
• MOHAMAD SADEK
• ALI AL HAJ
• ALI MARKABAWI
• HASAN SROUR
• KHALIL BADER
• ALI TNEICH

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 7:28 P.M.

The players are out of the tunnel. The game is all set to begin

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 7:30 P.M. | 1′

First half begins

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 3′

Currently, possession is with the Lebanon team, and they went for the goal at the start itself, no goal ball was way high from the goal post.

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 9′

Bhutan is up for the task

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 11′ | Goalll!!!.. for Lebanon

Attack pays of Mohammad Sadek hits the goal lead for the Lebanese team

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 22′ | Just like rain, the attack has also quickened up

Is it time for a 2nd goal for the attacking maniacs?

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 23′ | Second Goalll!!!.. for Lebanon

Ali Al Haj converts the chance, goalkeeper dives but to no avail making the score 2-0

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 30′ | Destroying Bhutan for fun

Lebanon are going for the third one

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 35′ | Third Goalll!!!.. for Lebanon

Khalil capitalized on Mehdi's kick. Lebanon are just flying

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 40′ | Chance missed

Mohammad Sadek hits the ball. He hits it Outside the park. He misses the opportunities due to the difficult position he was in covered by the opponent's defenders.

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 42′ | Chance missed

Mehdi was not able to control the ball that passed toward him. That's an opportunity dusted.

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 43′ | Another Goalll!!!.. for Lebanon

This time Mehdi made no mistake and coverts it in. They are just blowing Bhutan for fun at the moment.

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 45′ | 2 minutes added in

The Fourth officials confirmed, there will be 2 minutes of additional time.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan (0) vs Lebanon (4) Live Blog | Half-Time

He kicks it toward a fellow compatriot who hits a header, Antoine Lebanese Kepper jumps, and the ball is far above the post, the Bhutanese team is still at zero. Chencho is alone on the attacking front, strategy needs to be revised if they want to play for victory.

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 46′ | Kick off

Second Half begins

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 52′ | Chencho tries to attack

But he was not able to break Dhaini the wall. Again he is feeling loneliness on the attacking front.

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 56′ | Penalty

Chencho is in pain. Lebanese pair not happy with this decision

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 57′ | Penalty missed

Chencho misses that by a length.

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 64′ | Yellow card for Ali

Argument breaks in. Ali and the referee in the heated argument.

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 70′ | missed another chance to score a goal

Even after there was a lack of defense by the Bhutanese team, Lebanon missed.

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 79′ | Goalll!!.. Bhutan put one back

Chencho came up with the consolation goal.

Bhutan vs Lebanon Live Blog | 85′ | Opportunity missed

The Bhutanese keeper dives, but the ball was far away not just from him but even from the mighty post.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan (1) vs Lebanon (4) Live Blog | Full time

That was just pure dominance by Lebanon, though Chencho showcased fighting spirit with translated to a goal in 2nd half other than that Bhutanese team effort has been quite rusty. Mohammed, Ali, and Zain were the scorers for the Lebanon team. The second half went quite dry for them after 4 goals in the first half. They did lots of changes but it didn't translate to the goal.