Yemen U17 2-1 Lebanon U17 — Yemen U17 opened their WAFF-U17 campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Lebanon U17 on 30 September 2026. Two first-half efforts gave Yemen control, and although Lebanon halved the deficit late, the young Yemenis held on for a valuable three points.

Match overview

Played as part of the West Asian Football Federation U-17 Championship, the 22:00 kick-off brought together two sides eager to make a strong start in a competitive regional tournament. Yemen began brightly, pressing Lebanon’s defenders and looking to win the ball high. Lebanon tried to settle through possession, but they were often hurried in midfield and struggled to find a rhythm in the opening half.

Yemen’s early aggression paid off with the opening goal, and they doubled their lead after the break. Lebanon improved as the match progressed and pulled one back with a well-taken finish, setting up a tense finale. Yemen dropped deeper to protect their advantage, clearing several dangerous crosses and surviving a late scramble to claim the win.

Key moments

• 18th minute: Yemen took the lead when Mohammed Al-Quraishi latched onto a loose ball and finished low into the bottom corner.
• 52nd minute: Yemen doubled their advantage through Ali Al-Harbi, who converted a quick counter-attack with a composed finish.
• 76th minute: Lebanon pulled one back when Hassan Moussawi headed in from a right-sided cross, giving his side hope.
• Late: Lebanon pressed for an equaliser, but Yemen’s goalkeeper made a crucial save and the defence cleared a goalmouth scramble in stoppage time.

Tactical story

Yemen U17 lined up in a 4-2-3-1 and looked to press Lebanon’s build-up, forcing mistakes in the middle third. Their front four worked hard to cut off passing lanes, and their two holding midfielders screened the space in front of the defence. When they won the ball, they attacked quickly through the channels. Lebanon preferred a patient approach, using their full-backs to advance and trying to create overloads out wide, but they were too often forced backwards.

After taking a two-goal lead, Yemen shifted to a more conservative block, inviting Lebanon to break them down. Lebanon saw more of the ball and created several half-chances, but their final pass was often delayed. Yemen’s defensive discipline in the final 15 minutes was crucial: they defended their box with numbers, won important headers, and used substitutions to break up Lebanon’s momentum.

Standout players

Mohammed Al-Quraishi was Yemen’s most dangerous attacker, scoring the opener and linking play intelligently. Ali Al-Harbi’s goal rewarded his relentless running in behind the defence. Yemen’s goalkeeper also deserves credit for a late save that preserved the three points. For Lebanon, Hassan Moussawi was the brightest spark, scoring the goal and causing problems with his movement in the second half. Their captain tried to drive the team forward, but Lebanon could not find a second goal.

What it means

The victory gives Yemen U17 an important early boost in the WAFF-U17 standings and reinforces the progress of their youth development. It was not a perfect performance, but the combination of early aggression and late resilience will please the coaching staff. Lebanon U17 will rue missed opportunities, especially in the final 20 minutes. They showed enough going forward to suggest they can still be competitive in the tournament, but they will need to start faster and be more clinical in their next match.