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In the framework of the West Asian U-18 Women's Championship, the Lebanese national team suffered a heavy defeat against Syria on the second day, jeopardizing their chances of retaining the title.

After a promising start to the tournament with a draw against Jordan (1-1), Lebanon was decisively beaten by Syria on Saturday afternoon at Aqaba Stadium, conceding three unanswered goals. This loss in the fourth edition of the West Asian U-18 Women’s Championship seriously complicates the road ahead for the defending champions, who were aiming for a third consecutive title following their victories in 2019 and 2022.

A one-sided start

From the kickoff, the Syrians dictated the pace with fast play and sharp attacks. The first goal came as early as the 9th minute from a long shot by Maya Allouche, exploiting a significant error by Lebanese goalkeeper Nour Hammoudi. Struggling to manage a floating ball, Hammoudi watched as the shot sailed over her and into the net.
Five minutes later, in the 14th minute, Lilas Ibrahim doubled the score for Syria. Benefiting from a perfectly timed through pass by Aya Mohamed, Ibrahim found herself alone in front of the Lebanese goalkeeper and calmly slotted home the second goal.
In the 39th minute, Allouche scored again, this time with a brilliant free kick from long range. The ball, perfectly curled, found the top-right corner, leaving the Lebanese goalkeeper helpless.

A calmer second half

After the break, Lebanon tried to get back into the match, but Syria's well-organized defense neutralized all their offensive attempts. Despite tactical adjustments from coach Joanna Hamzeh, the Lebanese team continued to struggle.
Syria, confident with their lead, managed their advantage until the final whistle.

With this victory, Syria takes the lead in the tournament with three points, ahead of Palestine, who also has three points, but fewer goals. Jordan and Lebanon follow with one point each, while Saudi Arabia remains at the bottom without any points.

A necessary wake-up call before facing Saudi Arabia

This defeat highlights Lebanon's weaknesses, particularly in defense and in their transition to attack. Although their hopes of a triple crown are not yet extinguished, the Lebanese team must urgently correct their mistakes in their next match against Saudi Arabia on Monday. Only a large victory can rekindle their chances of salvaging the tournament. The competition, structured as a single-phase championship, will determine its winner based on the final standings. After this convincing performance, Syria looks well-positioned to take the lead.

The task ahead is daunting for the team aiming to secure a third consecutive title. To do so, they will need to rediscover the fighting spirit and effectiveness that allowed them to dominate the region in recent years.