India’s journey in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 came to an unfortunate conclusion when they were eliminated after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Syria on Tuesday, January 2023. Syria secured the victory with Omar Khrbin’s decisive goal, keeping their hopes of advancing in the tournament alive.
India’s AFC Asian Cup 2023 journey concluded on January 23, Tuesday, with a disappointing defeat against Syria. Despite their initial positive start, including a loss to Australia, the team faced a setback when they were unable to score any goals in their campaign. Khrbin’s goal proved to be the deciding factor between the two sides, highlighting the struggles of the Indian forwards to make an impact on that particular day. This loss ultimately dashed their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage, while Syria kept their own hopes alive with a 1-0 victory.
Omar Khrbin’s goal emerged as the decisive factor that set the two teams apart at Al Bayt stadium.
Syria displayed their dominance in the opposition box, making over 40 touches, while the Indian forwards struggled to find the back of the net. Unfortunately, the campaign concluded with the Blue Tigers failing to score any goals and conceding six at the other end.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Gurpreet and the defense showcased their resilience throughout the match. The game commenced with India launching an attacking approach and applying early pressure. As a result, Mahesh had an opportunity to score from the right, forcing Madania to make a save.
However, Syria quickly gained control of the game and posed a threat to India’s defense. In the 7th minute, Gurpreet exhibited his skills by saving a header from Sabbag. The following 10 minutes were tense and cautious, until Apuia nearly made a costly mistake that could have allowed Syria to take the lead.
Nevertheless, Gurpreet demonstrated his exceptional goalkeeping skills by saving a powerful long-range shot to his left from Hesan, followed by Subhashish’s impressive block on the subsequent shot. In the 25th minute, India had an opportunity to counterattack from a freekick, but Chhetri failed to direct his shot on target.
With Syria gradually gaining control of the game, the Indian defense had to remain vigilant. Players like Subhashish and Jhingan were instrumental in ensuring that there was no threat in their box. Gurpreet also played a crucial role in keeping the Syrian side from scoring and maintaining a clean sheet.
Unfortunately, the second half began on a sour note for the Indian team as they lost Jhingan to an injury in the first minute. He had to be substituted, with Nikhil Poojary taking his place on the field. In an attempt to turn their fortunes around, Mahesh was also replaced by Udanta Singh.
As the game progressed, Syria gradually started to exploit gaps in the Indian defense. In the 51st minute, Subhashish once again showcased his defensive prowess by blocking Khrbin’s shot, establishing himself as one of India’s standout players. A few minutes later, the Blue Tigers had another chance when Udanta’s cross into the box caused a fumble from the Syrian goalkeeper. However, Chhangte’s subsequent shot was blocked by Oues.
In the 62nd minute, Syria had an excellent opportunity to take the lead when Hesan’s cross found Khrbin, but unfortunately, his attempt narrowly missed the target. In an attempt to turn the game around, India introduced Sahal Abdul Samad and Suresh Wangjam onto the field, with the Kerala midfielder almost making an immediate impact.
Chhetri played a precise pass to Sahal, but the midfielder’s shot was blocked. Despite facing pressure from the Syrian side, the Indian defense tried to maintain their shape, but they were eventually breached in the 76th minute. Khrbin received the ball, evaded Bheke, and unleashed a powerful shot past Gurpreet, giving his team the lead.
India made efforts to increase their attacking intensity in order to equalize, but the Syrian defense remained resilient and successfully thwarted all their attempts. As the second half came to a close, seven minutes of additional time were added, and Syria came close to doubling their lead as Khrbin almost set up a perfect opportunity.
Despite a late surge of sustained pressure in the final minutes, India was unable to find the back of the net and ultimately exited the competition.