Lebanon will carry out their final preparatory assignments before jetting off to the UAE for a much-anticipated second appearance at the Asian Cup. The Cedars will feature in two friendlies this week, beginning with Thursday’s tie against Uzbekistan at Lang Park Stadium in Brisbane, Australia 12:00 p.m. Beirut time.
Miodrag Radulovic’s men will then meet Asian champions Australia in a landmark occasion Tuesday where Tim Cahill will mark his final appearance for the Socceroos.
How Lebanon respond against a formidable Uzbek side will be crucial moving forward after the Cedars saw their 16-match unbeaten run ended by Kuwait last month.
Lebanon’s record against Uzbekistan is far from encouraging, however, with the “White Wolves” winning on three occasions and drawing twice.
Uzbekistan are currently helmed by the defensively minded Hector Cuper, the wily Argentinian manager who recently guided Egypt to the World Cup.
Since being appointed in August, the former Inter Milan coach has compiled a respectable record of two wins and one draw, with Uzbekistan’s lone loss coming against Asia’s highest ranked team Iran.
After going nearly two years without tasting defeat, Lebanon’s proud record was snapped by Faisal Zayid’s late free kick in a 1-0 loss to Kuwait.
Prior to that defeat, the Cedars had been struggling mightily for goals, and they created precious little inside the Al-Kuwait Sports Club Stadium. Since topping their Asian Cup qualification group with 13 goals from six matches, Lebanon have managed to score just five times in as many outings.
And the goal-shy Cedars are running out of time to regain their swagger ahead of their Asian Cup opener with Qatar on Jan. 9.
It remains to be seen whether Radulovic will opt for a bold approach, where Mohamad Haidar could be drafted in to supplement Hassan Maatouk, Hilal al-Helwe and Rabih Ataya in attack.
Haidar has been in red-hot form for his club Ahed, scoring four times in his last three matches to keep the champions’ title defense firmly on track.
The 29-year-old has benefitted from a more withdrawn role for Ahed, where he is able to dictate play from midfield and supply goal-scoring chances from deep.
Maatouk, meanwhile, could equal Roda Antar’s goalscoring record for Lebanon Thursday.
