Syria emerged as group E champion and qualified in the final round of the AFC U-23 2016 Qualifiers as they beat Uzbekistan by 2-1 goals in their last group E match Tuesday at the
Bangabandhu National Stadium.
This win put Syria at the top of group E with nine points while Uzbekistan finished behind them with six points from the same number of outings.
Syria got the first scoring chance in the 18th minute but was denied by the woodwork. Winger Yousef Kalfa’s cross was superbly headed by Omar Khirbin but the ball rebounded off the Uzbek crosspiece.
However, Syria took their deserving lead in the 28th minute as Mahmoud al Mawas’s cross was headed by Mahoud al Baher and unmarked Omar Kharbin placed the ball home (1-0).
Omar Kharbin increased the margin double for Syria in the 45th minute from a penalty. Uzbek defender Sardor Rakhmanov brought Mahmoud al Baher down inside the danger zone and Kharbin made no mistake to convert the spot kick (2-0).
After the resumption, Uzbekistan tried hard to fight back and pulled one back in the 57th minute when Abbosbek Makhstaliev took an angular shot into the Uzbek far post (2-1).
Uzbekistan however failed to create any opportunity in the remaining proceeding which helped Syria to attain the direct ticket to the AFC U-23 Championship 2016.
