Syria vs India 1-0: AFC Asian Cup 2023 football – as it happened
All the updates as Syria beat India 1-0 in a bid to reach the last 16 of the AFC Asian Cup 2023.
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Syria beat India 1-0 in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 on Tuesday, January 23, 2024:
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Syria beat India 1-0 in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 on Tuesday, January 23, 2024:
- Syria beat India 1-0 in their final Group B match at the AFC Asian Cup 2023 at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, with substitute Omar Khrbin scoring the only goal of the game. Australia and Uzbekistan drew 1-1 in the group’s other game.
- Uzbekistan finish second on five points and will join group winners Australia in the last 16.
- Syria finish third with four points and face a nervy wait to see if they have secured qualification as one of the best third placed teams.
- India finish rock bottom in Group B, failing to secure a point or score a goal despite some promising moments.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
Goodbye for now
It was a frantic evening in Group B, with Syria winning to give themselves a good chance of securing a place in the last 16.
That’s not the end of today’s Asian Cup action, with two games on the way in just under an hour.
Iran will face the United Arab Emirates, while Hong Kong will take on Palestine.
We’ll be covering the latter live and you can join Kevin here for all of the action from that one.
For now, from me, goodbye.
How Syria can qualify
Victory today has left Syria on four points after their three group games.
The four best third-placed teams will qualify for the knockout stages in Qatar.
Only two groups have concluded their games so far, with China finishing third in Group A on just two points.
Bahrain, Indonesia, Oman and Palestine all sit third in their respective groups, but have a game still to play.
It means a nervous wait for Syria to discover if they have reached the last 16.
Khrbin keeps Syria alive
Half-time substitute Omar Khrbin was the difference today, as the Al-Wahda forward scored the goal that could see Syria reach the Asian Cup last 16 for the first time.
The 30-year-old looked lively throughout the second half and showed great composure to slot the ball home on 76 minutes.
Khrbin now has 22 goals in 58 appearances for Syria and will remain a threat if the Eagles of Qasioun remain in this tournament.
⚽️ GOAL | 🇸🇾 SYRIA 1️⃣-0️⃣ INDIA 🇮🇳
Cometh the moment, cometh the man.
2017 AFC Player of the Year, Omar Khrbin breaks the deadlock ☄️
Watch Live 📺 https://t.co/nJZ0pcVqz1#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #SYRvIND pic.twitter.com/YlMXIfepG3
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 23, 2024
Who else but Omar Khrbin 😍😍
— Erfan / عرفان (@Eri1806) January 23, 2024
Photos: Syrian joy, Indian heartache
India heading home
Igor Stimac will likely face some tough questions as India crash out with no points and no goals.
The effort and intensity wasn’t lacking today, but they lacked any real quality to break Syria down.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu impressed in goal, ensuring that the scoreline remained at only 1-0.
🇮🇳 India's worst ever Asian Cup campaign comes to an end.
For the second time ever, our team failed to score even a single goal in an edition. Last one came in 1984.
Even 2011 was better. Atleast we scored and it was a 16 team tournament.#BlueTigersInAsia | #AsianCup2023
— Ali Mehdi (@MehdiTalksBall) January 23, 2024
⏰ FT | 🇸🇾 Syria 1️⃣-0️⃣ India 🇮🇳
The Qasioun Eagles throw themselves a lifeline in an attempt to progress to their first-ever Round of 16 with a slim win against India courtesy of Omar Khrbin’s sublime goal! ⚡
#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #SYRvIND pic.twitter.com/vNQPztUr4e
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 23, 2024
Group B concludes
It’s also full-time in Australia’s clash with Uzbekistan.
That game has finished 1-1, meaning the Socceroos finish top of Group B on 7 points.
Uzbekistan are second on five points and will join Australia in the last 16.
Syria are currently the best ranked third-place team with four points and now face a nervy wait to see if they have secured qualification.
India prop up the group, unable to secure a point or score a goal.
FT | We top 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐁 with a draw at Al Janoub Stadium 🔝🪜#AUSvUZB #Socceroos #AsianCup2023#DifferentBreed pic.twitter.com/nH4vYHyfhE
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 23, 2024
Full-time!
That’s it!
The whistle is blown and Syria have pulled off a huge victory.
Progress to the last 16 is not guaranteed, but they look in a strong position in third place on four points.
Khrbin is being hoisted into the air by his teammates!
Full-time: Syria 1-0 India
India testing Madanieh
A ball is floated into the Syrian box from the left, but Madanieh shows great composure to claim it while almost on his own line.
India come back again, with Chhangte whipping in a cross from the right. Madaneih punches it to safety.
These are nervy moments for Syria.
90+7 mins: Syria 1-0 India
Syria on the cusp of a huge win
The Syrian fans are starting to party in the stands.
Their players are seeing out this match nicely. As it stands they are on course to be one of the four best third placed teams.
A reminder, it remains 1-1 between Australia and Uzbekistan. They are set to finish as the top two in Group B.
90+5 mins: Syria 1-0 India
Seven minutes added on
India are throwing men forward, leaving plenty of space for Syria to counter.
One such attack finds Khrbin in the box. He heads the ball into the path of two of his teammates, but they are just unable to apply a finish.
India are still battling away, but they are almost down and out.
90+2 mins: Syria 1-0 India
India lacking a goal threat
India are seeing plenty of the ball, but they are struggling to find a way past the Syrian defence.
They’ve lacked quality at the top of the pitch today and are on the verge of heading out of this tournament without scoring a goal.
Udanta Singh is doing all he can to change that and wins a free kick in the Syrian half, but the set piece comes to nothing with the ball bouncing off Rahul’s head to go behind for a goal kick.
89 mins: Syria 1-0 India
Al Aswad leaves the field
Syria make a change of their own, with Mahmoud Al Aswad making way for Mohammad Anez.
The Eagles of Qasioun know that four points will put them in a strong position to sneak through as one of the best third-place finishers, but they need to ensure that they see this game out.
India need goals, but that is looking increasingly unlikely.
85 mins: Syria 1-0 India
Uzbekistan equalise against Australia!
Turgunboev scores in the 79th minute to make it 1-1 in Group B’s other game.
As this stand, Australia top the group with seven points, Uzbekistan are second with five points, Syria are third with four points, and India are bottom with zero.
India have it all to do
The Indian defenders looked devastated after that goal went in.
The Blue Tigers just more than 10 minutes to try and pull off something very special.
Igor Stimac makes another change with Anirudh Thapa coming on for Lalengmawia Ralte.
81 mins: Syria 1-0 India
GOAL! Khrbin puts Syria ahead!
Super-sub Khrbin gives Syria the lead!
It’s his 22nd goal for his country and how significant a goal it could be.
A nice move finds Hesar on the left. He feeds the ball to Khrbin in the penalty area, who twists and turns away from Bheke before firing a shot under the outstretched hand of Sandhu.
The goal sparks huge celebrations for Syria and Khrbin is booked for removing his shirt.
76 mins: Syria 1-0 India
Syria go close again
Ramadan receives the ball on the left side of the Indian penalty area, and he fires a shot into the side netting after being closed down by Poojary.
That’s the Syrian player’s final act of the game because he is subbed off for Alaa Al Dali.
While that change is made, Sandhu is down in his own penalty area. After a short break, he returns to his feet to take a goal kick.
73 mins: Syria 0-0 India
Ramadan hits the side netting
Ramadan receives the ball on the left side of the Indian penalty area and he fires a shot into the side netting after being closed down by Poojary.
That’s the Syrian player’s final act of the game, as he is subbed off for Alaa Al Dali.
While that change is made, Sandhu is down in his own penalty area. After a short break, he returns to his feet to take a goal kick.
70 mins: Syria 0-0 India
Two changes for India
Off: Manvir Singh, Deepak Tangri
On: Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh
66 mins: Syria 0-0 India
Khrbin misses at the back post
A huge chance for Syria.
A mistake from Mishra allows Hesar the chance to cross to Khrbin at the back post.
The Syrian forward has a free header, but puts his effort high and wide.
A big let-off for India.
63 mins: Syria 0-0 India
Tensions builds in the stands
Tension creeping in
India are about to make some more changes as we pass the hour mark.
The game is in a slight lull as it stands, with some tense faces in the crowd.
There’s plenty riding on the next 30 minutes.
61 mins: Syria 0-0 India
India staying in the game
Syria ended the first half very strongly, but India have fought back well since the break.
They aren’t causing the Indian defence too much trouble, but the Eagles of Qasioun aren’t attacking as often as they have been.
A reminder, it remains 1-0 to Australia against Uzbekistan in the other game in Group B.
58 mins: Syria 0-0 India
Stimac yellow carded
Madanieh nearly gifts India a golden opportunity.
The Syrian keeper comes out to chase down a cross into the box, but he’s left in no-man’s-land as Chhangte runs on to the ball.
Fortunately for Syria, the Indian player is not able to get a shot away.
The Blue Tigers coach, Igor Stimac, has just picked up a yellow card for persistent complaining from the touchline.
55 mins: Syria 0-0 India
Khrbin has a sight at goal
Hesar judges his run very well, heading a long ball down into the path of Syrian danger man Khrbin.
The forward attempts to get a shot on goal from inside the area, but his effort is blocked by an Indian defender.
This game remains on a knife edge, with both sides still capable of qualifying.
52 mins: Syria 0-0 India