AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers: Shami’s 86th-minute winner helps India beat Syria in opener

Indian men's U20 team scored late to defeat Syria 1-0 in their opening match of the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers Group B tie in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Monday.

Singamayum Shami (86') scored the only goal of the match to help his side grind out three points from an otherwise lacklustre performance.

This win will help India's chances of progressing to the main draw, as eight group winners and seven best runners-up teams will progress.

The Indian team will next take on the hosts, Uzbekistan, on September 3rd and then the arch-rivals Bangladesh on the final matchday on September 6th.

The 1994 champions Syria are seeking a third consecutive appearance in the Finals. Meanwhile, India, who lifted the trophy in 1974, are seeking a first appearance in the Finals since 2006.

Syria were quicker to settle in the match today as they took the game to India. The South Asian side were, however, resolute in their defending as the first half ended goalless.

Syria continued to press after the break and thought they had finally taken the lead in the 69th minute, but Ahmad Khalaf was correctly judged offside.

The forward was then agonisingly denied by the crossbar two minutes later, with the frame of the goal preventing his thumping header from Alan Mamo's cross from going in.

It proved to be a costly miss as India went ahead in the 86th minute when Singamayum Shami capitalised on hesitant Syrian defending to sweep home Md Arbash's cutback to secure India the three points.

India had another good chance in the dying moments, and they even found the back of the net, but the Indian forward was found offside.

Eventually, the Blue Colts held on to the Syrian pressure in the injury time and kept their slender lead at the final whistle, making a winning start to the campaign.