India’s limp AFC Asian Cup marketing campaign ends with 1-0 loss to Syria

Subhasish Bose of India seems dejected after the workforce’s defeat within the AFC Asian Cup Group B match between Syria and India at Al Bayt Stadium on January 23, 2024 in Al Khor, Qatar.
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Pictures

India completed its AFC Asian Cup 2023 marketing campaign on a forgettable observe with a 0-1 loss to Syria in its third and last group stage match on the Al Bayt Stadium on Tuesday.

Syria’s ‘tremendous sub’ Omar Khrbin scored the winner for Hector Cuper’s facet because the Blue Tigers bowed out of the competitors with three consecutive losses and no factors to their title.

India had began the sport in search of an early break, with Mahesh Singh Naorem coming near scoring within the fourth minute, solely to see it go vast after a deflection.

Syria, alternatively, was seen practising loads of lengthy and diagonal balls in its last warm-up which was mirrored in its play, utilizing a 4-4-2 form.

It bombarded India with photographs constantly however Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s astute presence ensured the match remained a level-playing discipline for essentially the most a part of the sport.

Hector Cuper’s facet received its first likelihood from a nook within the seventh minute. Pablo Sabbag beat Manvir Singh to Jalil Elias’ nook however his header was pushed away by the Bengaluru FC goalkeeper.

Within the nineteenth minute, Lalengmawia Ralte misplaced the ball to a marauding Ibrahim Hesar, who then shot from a distance, forcing one other save by Gurpreet.

Two probabilities

India had two extra probabilities to attain and each had captain Sunil Chhetri taking them. Whereas the primary – a header from a floating cross by Mahesh – was steered vast of aim, the second, the final shot of the primary half, flew off-target.

Minutes into the second half, India misplaced the center of its defence as Sandesh Jhingan limped off the sphere to get replaced by Nikhil Poojary.

Cuper regarded to vary his technique after the restart. Syria had three photographs on the right track within the first half and two of them have been from exterior the field. Within the second half, it began enjoying extra floor passes.

And with Jhingan lacking within the back-line, the breakthrough finally arrived within the 76th minute.

Lalengmawia misplaced the ball to Elias within the midfield, who marched up the pitch and handed to Alaa Aldin Yasin Dali, who then received the ball to Khrbin. Khrbin performed a one-two with Hesar after which beat Rahul Bheke to seek out the bottom-left nook.

Outcomes

Group B: Syria 1 (Khrbin 76) bt India 0, Australia 1 (Boyle 45+1-pen) drew with Uzbekistan (Turgunbaev 78).