Lebanon draw with India in Goa, win 6-3 on aggregate

MARGAO, October 30: Lebanon were held to a 2-2 draw by India in the second leg of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers here Tuesday afternoon, going through 6-3 on aggregate. India are now out of the qualifying competition for the next World Cup in South Africa. The visitors had won the first leg in Beirut 4-1. Just like they did in Lebanon, the Indians shot ahead through thanks to Sunil Chetri's 30th minute strike. Faissal Antar converted a penalty in the 73rd minute after the home side's goalkeeper Subrata Pal was pulled up for a professional foul and sent off by Jordanian referee Salem Mahmoud Mujghee. The Lebanese striker then beat substitute goalkeeper Sandip Nandy, who came on in place of midfielder Samir Naik, in the 83rd minute to give Lebanon the lead. India captain Baichung Bhutia brought the teams back on level terms with a crafty injury time strike off a corner kick by Stephen Dias but it was just not enough to prevent Lebanon from going through to the second round of the Asian qualifiers with a handsome 6-3 aggregate. The tie was originally scheduled to be played in Chennai on Sunday but was moved to Goa after a downpour left the grounds in the southern Indian city unfit for the game