Lebanon battled to a 2-2 draw against North Korea in front of a whopping 48,000 spectators Tuesday to maintain their first place in Group B of Asian Cup qualification. Despite conceding inside 30 minutes, the Cedars fought back twice to claim a vital point in Pyongyang, taking a major step toward qualifying for the Asian Cup for the first time since hosting the 2000 edition.
After winning their first two games against Malaysia and Hong Kong, Lebanon lead Group B with seven points.
North Korea are currently in second place with three points. Malaysia and Hong Kong are tied in third place on two points after their 1-1 draw Tuesday.
The top two teams from each group automatically advance to the Asian Cup.
North Korea got off to a flying start Tuesday with the hosts going ahead through Kim Yu-song in the 23rd minute, before Nour Mansour equalized for the Cedars early in the second half.
North Korea stepped up their attack late in the game and looked to have grabbed all three points when Ri Yong-jik gave them an 86th minute lead.
But Lebanon skipper Hasan Maatouk equalized deep into stoppage time to silence the vociferous home crowd inside the Kim II-Sung Stadium and earn his side a valuable share of the spoils.
Lebanon’s coach Miodrag Radulovic praised his players’ hard-fought effort and fine form after the match. “The result was normal and acceptable,” Radulovic said during a news conference.
Radulovic added, “We created four goal-scoring chances before the North Korean side went up. Whoever doesn’t score will concede goals.”
Radulovic also lamented the long trip from Beirut to the North Korean capital, which saw the players participate in a training camp in Abu Dhabi before embarking on an arduousflight to the game.
Lebanon have three games left to cement their place as group leaders.
The Cedars will play North Korea again next month and will be paired against Hong Kong on Nov. 14 before their final match against Malaysia on Mar. 27.
Hilal al-Hilweh, Rabih Ataya and Maatouk led the front line for Lebanon, with Samir Ayass, Haytham Faour and Nader Matar taking control of the midfield.
The back line of Qassem Zein, Moatez Al-Junaidi, Nour Mansour and Ali Hamam held firm for the most part against the hosts while goalkeeper Mehdi Khalil continued his fine form for the national team.
The recently expanded tournament – increasing the participants from 16 teams to 24 – will see the top two finishers in each of the six groups in the qualifying rounds joining the 12 teams that have already qualified. “We now have a big chance to [finish this off] on our ground,” Radulovic said in reference to the upcoming match with North Korea next month.
