ZOUL MIKAEL (Lebanon) - In a fitting end to Group D action of the opening window of the World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, Qatar shocked Lebanon 86-83.
This was Cedars' first-ever loss at home in the World Cup Qualifiers since 2019, after 7 straight wins in the previous qualifying edition.
Equally significantly, it was Qatar's first victory over Lebanon since 2015, in major FIBA competitions.
TURNING POINT
Q3. 1:18 mins. Abdulrahman Saad's three put Qatar 9 points ahead, after which they would never relinquish the lead.
Wael Arakji had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but the shot fell short and left Qatar to claim the upset.
KEY PLAYER
Qatar point guard Brandon Goodwin impressed yet again, with a super-efficient statline of 25 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals.
For the second straight game, he had exemplary support in Alen Hadzibegovic. The 211 cm / 6'11" center had a double-double by the third quarter itself and finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists.
STATS DON’T LIE
Lebanon's relatively higher 13 turnovers, for the second straight game, cost them dearly.
Qatar shot poorly from the free-throw line, going 14-of-24. But this was more than balanced by Lebanon's own poor three-point shooting, converting at just 22.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Qatar also had 4 more blocks than Lebanon. In a game decided by minor margins, this was a decisive stat.
BOTTOM LINE
The World Cup 2027 hosts Qatar are not taking these Qualifiers lightly, even if they are already assured of a berth in the flagship showpiece two years from now.
It's anyone's game in these Qualifiers. Everyone has to #StepItUp to make it to Qatar in 2027.
THEY SAID
"This is my third time playing against them [Lebanon]. Every time, every game, every second is tough. We were just resilient. We stayed focused the whole game, that's what we've been missing in the other two battles [against Lebanon this year]." - Qatar's star point guard Brandon Goodwin
"We've built a new team. Our team is the most tough team on the defensive side in Asia." - Qatar Assistant Coach Cengiz Karadag who had to step in as lead coach, after Hakan Demir's ejection in the second quarter
"Tough loss at home in front of fans. To be honest I expected this kind of game. We didn't perform the way we want in order to win this game. They deserved this win. We are ready to bounce back. We need time together." - Lebanon Head Coach Ahmad El Farran
"I put a lot of fault towards me just stepping up in the big moments and making shots. I feel like that's why they made me a part of the national team. I plan on playing better in the future." - Lebanon center Dedric Lawson
*This article is still being updated. Watch the post-game press conference:
FIBA