Saudi Arabia now have nine points and trail Group Four leaders Uzbekistan by three. They now just need a draw from their final two games to progress.

The hosts began in positive fashion and Saud Khariri had an opening after six minutes but shot straight at keeper Lary Mehanna.

Mohammad Baker then went close for Lebanon but his long-range effort flew over the bar before Mehanna was called on again to deny Nassir Al Shamrani.

The hosts continued to threaten towards the interval as Mohammed Al Shalhoub fired wide and Mehanna pulled off a stop from Malek Maaz.

And Saudi Arabia took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Tukar headed home Al Shalhoub's corner.

Lebanon looked to hit back and Mohamad Ghaddar saw a first-time effort from outside the box dealt with by Saudi goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah six minutes after the break.

Al Shamrani shaved the right post with a shot from the edge of the area before they doubled their advantage on the hour mark as Al Shalhoub and Tukar combined once again, the former's corner found the latter unmarked and he had all the time in the world to plant the ball in the roof of the net.

Osama Al Mowalad came close to making it three two minutes later but his shot was well saved by Mehanna.

Lebanon did have the final say, however, as Ghaddar drove a low shot past Abdullah from 18 yards out to claim a consolation goal for the visitors in the third minute of stoppage time, who are yet to pick up a point in Group Four.

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