The two teams entered the match with different ambitions, after Syria defeated Tunisia in the first round with a clean goal, while Qatar faced a surprising loss to Palestine with the same result. Despite the home team’s attempts to secure a victory to boost their qualification hopes, the Syrians snatched a dramatic draw in the final moments.
The first half saw Syrian dominance and ineffective Qatari attempts. The Syrian team started the match strongly, exerting early pressure on the Qatari defense. The first dangerous attempt came in the 5th minute, followed by a free kick in the 15th minute, saved by the Qatari defense, according to sports websites.
In the 21st minute, the Syrian team nearly scored from a powerful shot that deflected off a Qatari defender for a corner. Omar Khribin missed the best chance of the first half in the 22nd minute with a lobbed ball over goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham, only for Mohammed Waad to intervene at the last moment and save his team from a certain goal.
Qatar tried to respond with set-pieces and counter-attacks, with notable attempts from Akram Afif and Abdulaziz Hatem, but all lacked the necessary precision before the end of the first half.
At the start of the second half, Qatar intensified their efforts. Edmilson Junior fired a powerful shot in the 50th minute, brilliantly saved by the Syrian goalkeeper. In the 55th minute, a golden opportunity for Qatar was missed after an excellent dribble by Akram Afif past the goalkeeper, only for defender Ahmed Faqa to clear the ball off the line.
Relief came for Qatar in the 77th minute when Edmilson delivered a precise cross met by Ahmed Alaa’s powerful header into the net, announcing Qatar’s lead. However, the Syrian team did not give up, and Omar Khribin managed to score a stunning equalizer in the 90th minute with a superb shot from the edge of the penalty area, finding the left corner of Meshaal Barsham’s goal.
