Sporting Kansas City forward Soony Saad will be in contention for his 10th cap when he joins the Lebanon Men's National Team for a 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against North Korea, set for Oct. 10 at Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon.
Saad, 25, has scored three goals in nine previous appearances for Lebanon since debuting in 2013. He has played two AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in recent months, starting in a 2-1 win over Malaysia on June 13 and coming off the bench in a 2-2 draw at North Korea on Sept. 5.
Lebanon is five points clear atop Group B of AFC Asian Cup qualifying with three matches still to play between now and March 2018. The top two finishers in the group will advance to the AFC Asian Cup, Asia’s quadrennial national team tournament in which Lebanon made its lone appearance in 2000. The 2019 edition will be played from Jan. 5 to Feb. 1 in the United Arab Emirates.
2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying – Group B
Team |
PTS |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lebanon |
7 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
+3 |
North Korea |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
Hong Kong |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
-2 |
Malaysia |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
Saad has featured in 12 MLS matches this season, having spent the previous two years playing in Thailand. His first stint with Sporting KC spanned from 2011-2014, when he tallied 14 goals in 71 matches across all competitions. The forward made his USL debut for the Swope Park Rangers on Aug. 23, scoring the opening goal in a 2-2 draw at Sacramento Republic FC.
Saad will link up with Lebanon following Sporting KC's home match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, kicking off at 8 p.m. CT on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus and FOX Sports Midwest Plus.
