KUALA LUMPUR: Lebanon secured their place in the Merdeka Tournament final by edging Tajikistan 1-0 in a tense encounter at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
Midfielder Jihad Ayoub was the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the 13th minute, sealing victory for world No. 113 Lebanon.
The win was particularly sweet for Lebanon, who were denied a spot in the knockout stage of the Qatar Asian Cup in January by Tajikistan, ranked No. 103, after a 2-1 defeat in their group match.
Lebanon coach Miodrag Radulovic, eager to see his team lift the Merdeka Tournament trophy for the first time, said: "We got our revenge, and now we will focus on winning the title."
On the other side, Tajikistan coach Gela Shekiladze took the defeat as a valuable experience for his team, particularly the newcomers.
"It was a hard match for both teams. They scored a goal, and we didn't. The humidity made it difficult, but that's not an excuse.
"In football, we must be ready for everything," said Shekiladze
"I am here with a new Tajikistan team, so the tournament is part of the learning process.
"Some players did not look impressive, but I am confident they will get better," he added.