Tonga survived an almighty scare to reach their first World Cup semi-final with a tense 24-22 win over Lebanon.
Match stats: Tonga 24-22 Lebanon
Tonga tries: Lolohea (4), Fusitu'a (19,34), Hopoate (23)
Conversions: Hingano (6,24,36,53)
Lebanon tries: Doueihi (9), Elias (30), Miski (40,72)
Conversions: Moses (10,32,70)
Match report
Tonga survived an almighty scare to reach their first World Cup semi-final with a tense 24-22 win over Lebanon.
The Pacific Islanders were a shadow of the side that beat New Zealand in their previous game and were grateful for a contentious decision by English video referee Ben Thaler to disallow a Lebanese try for their victory.
The Cedars fought back from 16-6 down to get within six points by half-time and thought they had drawn level when centre Adam Doueihi went over on 45 minutes only to be denied by an obstruction ruling that looked harsh.
There was little hint of the drama to come when the game begin in predicable fashion, winger David Fusitua breaking clear to set up a fourth-minute try for stand-off Tui Lolohea and his half-back partner Mafoa'aeata Hingano kicked the first of his four goals.
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Fusitua then produced an acrobatic one-handed finish to score the first of his brace of tries and full-back Will Hopoate made the most of an offload from Andrew Fifita to score Tonga's third try midway through the first half.
However, Doueihi highlighted a flaw in the Tongan defence by sidestepping his way through for his side's first try and co centre James Elias went over for a second on 29 minutes to cut the gap to just 16-12.
Fusitua touched down Hingano's kick to register his second try but again the Cedars struck back when a kick from impressive full-back Anthony Layoun caused havoc in the Tongan defence and winger Abbas Miski followed up to touch down.
Trailing 22-16 at the break, Lebanon looked like they had drawn level five minutes into the second half when Doueihi stretched out for the line.
Referee Gerard Sutton also thought it was a legitimate try but Thaler controversially ruled an obstruction on Ben Murdoch-Masila and disallowed it.
Tonga made most of the let-off, with Hingano putting them two scores in front with a penalty, but Lebanon threatened again through the ever-dangerous Moses who was brought down just short of the line.
The re-introduction of Jason Taumalolo in the third quarter gave Tonga a lift but they were hanging on grimly by the end after the Cedars kept the ball alive brilliantly to work Miski over for his second try 12 minutes from the end.
