On paper at least, it appeared they would provide a stern test to City but the manner of this win means Mark Hughes' men will approach the second leg on 19 March in confident mood.
Making full use of the fact that it fields the most powerful army in the country and owing as well to the US's decision to abandon the pro-Western March 14 movement in favor of an approach that makes no distinction between America's friends and foes in Lebanon, Hizbullah strong-armed its way back to the driver's seat in the new Lebanese government.
The pair have been the most vocal advocates of the deficit reduction approach to recovery, culminating in the signing of a fiscal compact by 25 of 27 member states in March.