India vs Syria, Highlights, Intercontinental Cup 2019 Football Match: India finish bottom after 1-1 draw with Syria

FULL TIME! 

India 1-1 Syria in the end. Syria needed to win for a place in the final but a draw is not enough. It will be Tajikistan vs DPR Korea in the final of the Intercontinental Cup. Narender Gahlot had put India ahead and for a few minutes after that, the hosts looked good to go. For the first win in this tournament. But then Jerry came on as a substitute and gave away a penalty with a clumsy challenge. Up stepped Al Khatib to level. That is how things remained until the referee blew the final whistle.

90+3’ India 1-1 Syria

Al Khatib with a little dink into the India box. Looks to find a Syria shirt and late drama but Al Shami is a little late to it. Desperate lunge but not enough to poke it in.

90’ India 1-1 Syria

Chances galore from both teams. And in the middle of it, the referee indicating four minutes added on.

Syria need a goal more for a place in the final. Can they get it? 

78' GOAL! Firas Alkhatib slots in a penalty to draw Syria level!

🇮🇳 1-1 🇸🇾#INDSYR ⚔ #BackTheBlue 💙 #HeroIC 🏆 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/bl83JeGdp6

— Hero I-League (@ILeagueOfficial) July 16, 2019

82’ India 1-1 Syria

Amarjit Singh picks up a yellow card now after bringing down Mohammad Alahmad down near the half way line. Is that pressure? Is that just exhausation? India suddenly looking meek all over the park.

80’ India 1-1 Syria

Jerry once again playing with fire. Al Khatib gets past Jerry the first time but then the young defender gets hold of the Syrian’s shirt. Referee says not a penalty but that is a great shout for another penalty

78’ India 1-1 Syria

Sunil Chhetri with a bit of advice for Gurpreet. It doesn’t work out in the end. Firas Alkhatib stutters and then puts the ball into the corner of the goal and to Gurpreet’s right. Syria still in it then.

77’ India 1-0 Syria

PENALTY! Jerry had just come on as a substitute and he’s handed Syria a lifeline. Alahmad brought down inside the box and referee points to the spot.

75’ India 1-0 Syria

Bit of stats here. India completing 67% of their passes in the second half. And India have taken control of the game and it is visible. Syria getting increasingly frustrated with few things going their way. Also, Narender Gahlot scoring his first senior goal earlier – club or country.

69’ India 1-0 Syria

Another player in the Syria shirt goes into the book now. Udanta’s skills has Mohammad Al Marmour in trouble. Neat skills on display to dodge the Syria player and pick up a foul followed by a yellow for Al Marmour

64’ India 1-0 Syria

Firas Al Khati goes into the book. He’s absolutely incensed with not getting a foul or even a throw-in for all his battling. Has a go at the linesman and then the referee. And gets booked for his loud mouthed outburst.

Watch: How Narender Gahlot put India forward

📽️ @NarenderGahlot rose above everyone else and beautifully nodded in the header to put India in front! 🤩🤩

IND 🇮🇳 1-0 🇸🇾 SYR#IndianFootball #HeroIC 🏆 #BackTheBlue #BlueTigers #INDSYR pic.twitter.com/TTOGjN9flC

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 16, 2019

52’ India 1-0 Syria

INDIA LEAD! First goal from a set piece in the Intercontinental Cup. And it is the youngster Narender Gahlot. Corner from Anirudh Thapa is met with by Gahlot and the header goes into the corner. No one on the post to prevent and nothing the keeper could do to stop it. What a header there from Narender.

50’ India 0-0 Syria

Sunil Chhetri with a little bit of a check and then a reverse pass for Udanta. He has the space to try and get the ball into the area but a second touch football is blocked and it goes for a corner. Nothing from it.

Second half underway!

India get the ball rolling in the second half. Sunil Chhetri with some strong and loud words for his troops before getting the ball going.

Half time stats: India-Syria

Possession: 48%-52%
Shots: 1-10
Shots on target: 0-2
Corners: 1-1
Offside: 1-1

HALF TIME: India 0-0 Syria

“That was the performance of the tournament” chimes Paul Masefield in the commentary box on India’s showing in the first half. There have been two really good chances for Syria and one for India. But neither side has been able to go ahead. Much better showing from India than their previous game against DPR Korea.

44’ India 0-0 Syria

Sunil Chhetri stretching himself and taking the ball away from the Syrian foot near the Indian box. He tries to get away and run through but is impeded in doing so. Could have been yellows for either Tamer Hag Mohamad or Mohamed Anaz but it is the latter who goes into the book for the tug back.

38’ India 0-0 Syria

Narender Gehlot goes into the book. He was beaten near the halfway line and tried to keep the attack in check but does so by tugging the shirt. Always a yellow. First of the match.

31’ India 0-0 Syria

Was that offside? Bheke threads it through to Chhangte who makes a perfect run run between two defenders. Gets into the box and shoots with his left foot but goalkeeper Alma denies with a left handed save. Chhangte given offside! Replays suggest it wasn’t though.

29’ India 0-0 Syria

Great chance for Syria to score! An aerial ball heads for the India box. Looks nothing but Narender is caught napping and it gives Al Khatib the time and space to bring the ball down. Luckily for India and Narender, the shot is wide. Huge sigh of relief for India.

23’ India 0-0 Syria

Al Hamwi with a cross from his left foot into the India box. He finds Almarmour in the centre with Gahlot and Kotal trying to close him down. Gets the header in the end but good enough height for Gurpreet to latch on.

20’ India 0-0 Syria

Pritam Kotal has the ball on the right side and tries to cut it through to the centre and have Udanta run through to try and beat the defence and the keeper. But overcooks it and the zip on the surface takes the ball out of play.

12’ India 0-0 Syria

Syria have a free kick here after a foul by Bheke. Firas Al Khatib looks ready to take it. He runs in and drives from the right foot from 32 yards onto Gurpreet’s farside but goes wide! India’s custodian looked confident that it was going wide. Replay suggests it may have been a corner.

5’ India 0-0 Syria

Chance for India this time! Udanta with the feign to beat the Syria defender on the line and cuts in with his left foot. Gorgeous cross and extremely dangerous. Could have been an own goal as well. Two India shirts in Sahal and Chhangte in the box who try to attack but it doesn’t come off in the end. Very, very good chance for India to go ahead.

3’ India 0-0 Syria

Syria with a chance early on to make the India defence pay for lax work at the back. Quick one-two between two Syria players and the space is there to get a shot on target. But the striker with poor conversion.

KICKOFF! 

National anthems are done, pleasantries exchanged and now it is time for football. India in their regular blue and Syria in red.

Quick preview to the India vs Syria game

🗣️| @masefield2110 and @mehrajwadoo preview the @IndianFootball team's 🇮🇳 final round-robin fixture against Syria 🇸🇾 in the #HeroIC.

Kick-off ⚽️ is next! #INDSYR #BackTheBlue #BlueTigers #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/iSowLaWJTA

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) July 16, 2019

Approaching kickoff in  Ahmedabad. Nevin Thomas with scenes at the moment. 

What’s at stake for India

India have lost their first two games by 2-4 and 2-5 margins against Tajikistan and DPR Korea. India lead Tajikistan 2-0 at half time but let it all go from their grasp in the second 45. Against Korea, India were trailing 0-3 at the break before reducing deficit. With no wins, it is all to play for for both the players and newly installed coach Igor Stimac.

What’s at stake for Syria

Syria need to beat India. Doesn’t matter how they do it, doesn’t matter how many goals they score or concede. Just 3 points will do them fine. If they do win, they deny DPR Korea and go through to face Tajikistan in the final.

Team changes by India

Igor Stimac making eight changes from the 2-5 thrashing at DPR Korea’s hands. Only Kotal, Amarjit and Chhetri retaining their place in the playing XI. Rahul Bheke in the centre of defence it seems with Gahlot and Mandar coming back in after the loss against Tajikistan.

Syria fans full of noise.  

War torn? Yes. Love for football still in tact? Yes, Sir!

Syria's travelling fans setting the tempo 🔥 @fni pic.twitter.com/GBsdGeptPA

— Kalpanthu (@KalPanthu) July 16, 2019

The venue: The Arena/transStadia/EKA Arena. However you like to call it.

Whattey beautiful pic.twitter.com/RN4NekimhY

— Kalpanthu (@KalPanthu) July 16, 2019

India and Syria Playing XIs:

India XI: Gurpreet Singh, Narender, Anirudh Thapa, Sunil Chhetri, Chhangte, Udanta Singh, Mandar Dessai, Sahal Abdul, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Amarjit Singh

Syria XI: Ibrahim Alma, Alshami, Hamwi, Arnaout, Alslamh, Alkhatib, Alahmad, Tamer Mohamad, Anaz, Kourdoghli, Almarmour

This is how India will lineup against Syria: 

Here is how the #BlueTigers 🐯 lineup 💪🏻 against Syria 🇸🇾#IndianFootball #HeroIC 🏆 #BackTheBlue #INDSYR pic.twitter.com/LUu23dxXyX

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 16, 2019

India look for first win

India were in the running, mathematically at least, for the final. But those hopes were dashed when DPR Korea beat Tajikistan 1-0 on Monday. Now, Syria will have something to play for. India, though, have pride to play for. Nevin Thomas is in Ahmedabad for the Intercontinental Cup and he has the preview .

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Intercontinental Cup 2019 match between India and Syria. India are out of reckoning for a berth in the final but Syria could still qualify and for that they need a win tonight.