BEIRUT, LEBANON: Qatar on Sunday beat hosts Lebanon 1-0 to pick up
three points in their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Sports City
Stadium.

Striker Sebastian Soria scored the only goal of the match in the 64th
minute as Qatar started their Asian Zone, Group A campaign with a
deserving win.

Qatar, who have never reached the finals of any FIFA World Cup
edition, now play their next match against Korea in Doha on June 8.

Played in front of a full house at Sports City Stadium, Qatar started
slowly but picked up momentum after the first 10 minutes.

Watched by Qatar Football Association (QFA) President Shiekh Hamad bin
Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, the visitors showed resilience in front of
a large crowd.

In the 8th minute, Soria unleashed a ferocious shot from inside the
box but his bullet was parried over the crossbar by Lebanese
goalkeeper Ziad El Samad.

Three minutes later, Soria become the centre of attention again, this
time for a yellow card following a needless elbow into the head of
Lebanon's Hussein Dakik.

In the 26th minute, Qatar got away with with a bit of good fortune.

Lebanon's Abbas Attwi charged towards the Qatar's box and caught the
defense line with a surprise, shooting the ball past a defender and
goalkeeper Qassim Burhan.

The ball slipped through and hit the goalpost and bounced back into play.

In the 29th minute, Qatar's Lawrence Quaye aimed at the net from 30
yards but his shot was saved by goalkeeper El Samad.

In the 54th minute, Lebanon's Haytham Faour also tried a long-range
shot but the ball flew past the far goalpost.

Ten minutes later, Qatar scored the opener.

Lebanon's Ramez Dayoub flicked a long-range ball to goalkeeper El
Samad. But with less pace on the ball, Soria quickly lurched ahead and
arrived to collect the ball inside the box.

Goalkeeper lunged towards the Qatari striker and tripped but Soria
remained in control, dribbled past the fallen El Samad and quickly
flicked the ball into the open net.

Qatar are in Group A alongside Korea Republic, Iran, Uzbekistan and
Lebanon in the Final Round of Asian Zone Qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA
World Cup.