India hold Syria 1-1, Tajikistan to face North Korea in final : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Intercontinental Cup

India hold Syria 1-1, Tajikistan to face North Korea in final

AHMEDABAD: Already out of reckoning for a berth in the final, India produced their best performance of the tournament to play out a 1-1 draw against Syria in the final league match of the Intercontinental Cup here today.



Ahmedabad, July 16 

Already out of reckoning for a berth in the final, India produced their best performance of the tournament to play out a 1-1 draw against Syria in the final league match of the Intercontinental Cup here today.

The 18-year-old central defender Narender Gahlot gave India the lead in the 52nd minute but Syria restored parity in the 78th minute after Firas Al Khatib had converted a spot-kick at the EKA Stadium here.

Defending champions India, who had lost 4-2 against Tajikistan and 5-2 against North Korea, collected only one point in the tournament and ended at the bottom of the table. More importantly, India spoilt Syria's hopes of making it to the finals as they needed a win to qualify for the final but ended at third with four points from three matches.

Tajikistan and North Korea, who got six points each from three matches, will play in the summit clash on Saturday.  

India, who had conceded nine goals in their previous two matches, were solid at the back against Syria with the back-four of Gahlot, Rahul Bheke, Pritam Kotal and Mandar Rao Desai producing a much improved performance. Amarjit Singh and Sahal Samad were impressive in the middle of the park, just like in the earlier two matches. Captain Sunil Chhetri  led the charge for the Indian attack though he did not score for the first time in this tournament.

India could have won in front of a sizeable crowd had not Jerry Lalrinzuala made a clumsy challenge to an opponent three minutes after coming onto the field by replacing Mandar Rao Desai. Syria scored from the penalty to equalise.

After experimenting for two matches, India head coach Igor Stimac seemed to have picked the best eleven in his starting line-up after making eight changes from the match against North Korea. This was India's fifth match under Stimac's charge. India won just one (against Thailand in the King's Cup last month), drawn one and lost three. — PTI

Top News

Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in UP's Banda orders judicial inquiry into death of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari

UP court orders judicial probe into gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s death, seeks report in a month

Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari on Tuesday alleged that his brother...

‘Heart attack or poisoning’: The life and times of Mukhtar Ansari—crime and politics

‘Heart attack or poisoning’: The life and times of Mukhtar Ansari—crime and politics

Eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh are among the poorest regions...

Alka Rai, widow BJP MLA killed by Mukhtar Ansari, says 'justice has been served', visits Ram Mandir

Alka Rai, widow BJP MLA killed by Mukhtar Ansari, says 'justice has been served', visits Ram Mandir

Alka Rai is the wife of MLA Krishanand Rai, who was shot dea...

Cash-strapped Congress gets fresh IT notice of Rs 1,700 crore, say party insiders

Cash-strapped Congress gets fresh I-T notice of Rs 1,800 crore

Ajay Maken addresses a press conference

CBI files chargesheet against 20 institutes, 105 individuals in Himachal Pradesh multi-crore scholarship scam

CBI files chargesheet against 20 institutes, 105 individuals in Himachal Pradesh multi-crore scholarship scam

22 educational institutions were on CBI radar in the scholar...


Cities

View All