FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 play-off: Syria's remarkable journey
Kuala Lumpur: Syria’s run in the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifiers has been one of the stories of the campaign, with the Qasioun Eagles’ third-place finish in Group A setting up a play-off date against Australia.
With the first leg of the eagerly awaited encounter to take place in Melaka, Malaysia on Thursday, the-AFC.com looks back on how the West Asians defied the odds to maintain a fighting chance of progressing to a first-ever FIFA World Cup.
A losing start; a temporary home
Syria’s qualifying campaign got off to an underwhelming start 13 months ago as Alexander Geynrikh’s second-half goal handed Uzbekistan a 1-0 victory in Tashkent.
Five days later, the side would take to Malaysia for the first time after the Southeast Asian nation was chosen to host Syria’s home games due to the ongoing security situation in their homeland.
And a commendable result ensued as Ayman Al Hakeem’s team held continental powerhouses and nine times FIFA World Cup qualifiers Korea Republic to a scoreless draw to pick up their first point in Group A.
That game
But it was on Matchday Three that Syria really shot to attention when they travelled to Xian to take on China, who were themselves making global headlines as a result of the lavish spending by sides from the Chinese Super League and were expected to pick up their first win of the campaign.
The teams went into the interval goalless but 10 minutes after the restart Mahmoud Al Mawas raced on to Omar Khribin’s dink over the top, nudged the ball past goalkeeper Gu Chao and finished well under pressure to seal a memorable 1-0 win.
Goals hard to come by
However, just a few days later the West Asians were brought back down to earth as Hasan Al Haydos netted a first-half penalty to give Qatar a 1-0 victory in Doha, before Syria returned to Malaysia to hold the Islamic Republic of Iran to a 0-0 draw.
By the halfway point in Group A, Syria sat fourth in the standings on five points although, having scored just once, there was a clear lack of firepower and few would have anticipated a push towards the top three.
Unlikely contenders?
A huge turning point came in the dying moments of Matchday Six in the return meeting with the Uzbeks, who, after three wins from five, occupied third place in the table and knew a win would give Syria an almost impossible task to overhaul them.
Still goalless as the game moved into stoppage time, substitute Firas Mohamad was upended in the box and Khribin coolly chipped the ensuing penalty home to claim an invaluable three points.
A 1-0 defeat in Korea Republic followed five days later, while Uzbekistan regained their four-point lead over Syria by seeing off Qatar by the same scoreline, but there was now belief within the Syrian ranks that they could achieve the impossible.
The countdown begins
Syria had scored just twice in seven games – one of which was a penalty – but went into their final three matches still in the hunt for at least a play-off berth.
Another penalty, this time from Al Mawas, put them a goal to the good 12 minutes in against China in Melaka, but Gao Lin and Wu Xi saw Marcello Lippi’s team go 2-1 up with 15 minutes to play.
But Syria’s never-say-die attitude was again evident and captain Ahmad Al Saleh curled in a fabulous free-kick deep into added on time to secure a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, would lose 2-0 in Iran to mean the gap was down to three.
A pivotal day
Unbeaten at their temporary home in Malaysia, Syria went into the penultimate Matchday with Qatar looking for the three points that would keep them in contention, and with the added boost of seeing striker Omar Al Soma return to the national team after almost five years in the wilderness.
Khribin struck early to ease any nerves and, although Qatar leveled before half-time, the striker netted again nine minutes after the restart, before Al Mawas rounded off a 3-1 win in the 95th minute.
Another defeat for Uzbekistan, to China, saw Syria move level with the Central Asians on 12 points, while second-placed Korea Republic were now only two points ahead of the Qasioun Eagles after their scoreless draw with group winners Iran.
The permutations
A trip to Tehran was hardly the ideal setting for what was arguably the most important match in Syria’s history, particularly considering Iran remained unbeaten and had yet to concede a single goal.
Now above Uzbekistan – who were playing simultaneously against the Koreans in Tashkent – Syria knew if they could better the result of the Uzbeks then third place would be assured.
A Korea Republic defeat, meanwhile, could even have seen Al Hakeem’s team take second place and automatic qualification should they manage an unlikely victory at Azadi Stadium.
A magical moment
Suddenly a side that was finding the back of the net with regularity, Syria went in front on 13 minutes through Tamer Haj Mohamad, before a Sardar Azmoun double saw the hosts go 2-1 up by 64 minutes.
With the game in Tashkent goalless as full-time approached, Syria were heading for a brave exit until Al Soma ran on to a Mardik Mardikian ball in the 93rd minute and slotted through goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand’s legs to seal a 2-2 draw and spark joyous scenes as a play-off date with Australia was confirmed.
What next?
Syria now face a double header with Australia, with the first leg in Melaka on Thursday and the return fixture in Sydney five days later.
Should the West Asians overcome the Socceroos, who have appeared at every FIFA World Cup since 2006, they will face the fourth-placed team from CONCACAF over two legs for the right to qualify for next summer’s tournament in Russia.
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com
Comments
This article has 0 comment(s) , give your comment