SYRIA CONTINUED THEIR improbable dream of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup with a last-gasp 2-2 draw in Iran to seal a play-off spot in the Asian Football Confederation section.
Ayman Hakeem’s side performed incredibly against the backdrop of the six-year long civil war in their homeland to remain in the reckoning on the final matchday in round three of AFC qualifying, although they looked to have fallen short until Omar Al Soma pounced in the 93rd minute in Tehran.
The result means Syria finish third in Group A, behind group winners Iran and South Korea, who have qualified automatically for the finals.
Uzbekistan found themselves on the wrong side of the fairytale, with Al Soma’s strike eliminating them on goal difference.
Syria — who have played their “home” qualifiers during the campaign in Malaysia — must now wait to see whether they will face Australia or Saudi Arabia in next month’s play-off, with Group B winners Japan travelling to face the latter nation later on Tuesday.
The winner of that two-legged encounter will then face the fourth-placed side from the CONCACAF section in November’s intercontinental play-off for a place in Russia.
Yes, the Syrians. pic.twitter.com/tRdg8ZNWNX
— Mundial Magazine (@MundialMag) September 5, 2017
Tamer Mohamad gave Syria a 13th-minute lead, becoming the first player to score against Iran in a World Cup qualifier for 1,121 minutes.
Sardar Azmoun levelled for Iran on the stroke of half-time after Ibrahim Alma tipped Mehdi Taremi’s header on to the bar, and the Rubin Kazan forward doubled his tally in the 64th minute when Taremi flicked on Ehsan Haji Safi’s long throw.
But Al Soma held his nerve to slide a finish underneath Alireza Salimi deep into stoppage time and prompt wild celebrations on the touchline.
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Outstanding buy for Villa.
@john howard: and outstanding loss for Arsenal
Wow
Extended highlights of the game show the atrocious tackles that got put in on Messi. Battled on with bloody ankles in fairness. The man is in some of the best form of his life. Like a fine wine.
Sadly I don’t see them beating Brazil and the Ronaldo sharade will still claim he’s better due to his international record and Euro win which is chronically over exagerrated. Has 40+ goals of his 100 and odd against teams not in the Fifa top 100 nations.
@Brian Timmons: delighted for Messi but why have a go at Ronaldo?
Anybody that understands anything about football can acknowledge that both players are genius’s and both deserve the many plaudits they’ve rightfully earned. It’s charade and not sharade by the way.
@Aidan Prior: I think to be fair, if Messi had played in England, people on this side of the world would recognise how far ahead of everyone he is.
I watch la liga religiously and seen a lot of both Ronaldo and Messi.
Messi by a country mile and that’s no disrespect to CR7.
The Colombians had 6 yellow cards in the game-all six fouls were on you know who. The man was battered last night, nasty looking ankle injury he picked up