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3. Asia 2027: Lebanon Beats Bhutan and Stays on Top

In Doha, as part of the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, Lebanon claimed a 2–0 victory over Bhutan to strengthen its hold on first place. The win was built on control and sealed by goals from Walid Shour and Jihad Ayoub in stoppage time.

Lebanon resets its continental clock. On the pitch of Hamad Al-Kabir Stadium, Miodrag Radulović’s men earned their second win in the third qualifying round for Asia 2027, confirming their strong form and leadership in the standings. The outcome rewarded the consistency of a team that stayed composed despite a goalless first half and Bhutan’s resistance.

Lebanese Dominance

The first scare came from Bhutan, but it didn’t last long: high pressing, quick ball movement and repeated Lebanese waves — especially down the left flank — quickly pinned the opponents back. Mostafa Matar had a quiet night, while Hussein Zein, Khalil Khamis, Walid Shour and Mohamad Safwan shut down transitions. Up front, Mohamad Haidar orchestrated the play, Ahmad Kheireddine battled for every ball, Ali Kassas pushed forward, Hussein Chakroun made constant breakthroughs and Karim Darwich stretched the defense. Samy Merhej hit the crossbar, and goalkeeper Dorji delayed the inevitable for as long as he could.

Shour Opens, Ayoub Seals

After the break, Lebanon maintained the same tempo but with sharper execution. In the 63^rd minute, a loose ball in the box fell to Walid Shour, who struck instantly to open the scoring. Bhutan tried to react but made things worse with a red card. In stoppage time, Zein Farran broke down the flank and crossed; a defensive deflection sent the ball toward substitute Jihad Ayoub, who calmly lobbed Dorji to seal the 2–0 win.

Standing, Confidence and Momentum

This second victory takes Lebanon’s tally to 7 points, keeping the Cedars on top of their group ahead of Yemen. Confidence is building, performances are convincing, and the return fixture against Bhutan — scheduled for Tuesday in Doha — comes at the perfect time to widen the gap and strengthen Lebanon’s path to the 2027 Asian Cup.