Dominant Syria Win Intercontinental Cup 2024 with 3-0 Win Over Lacklusture India

Syria defeated India 3-0 to emerge champions in the Intercontinental Cup football tournament at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.

For Syria, Mahmoud Al Aswad (7th), Daleho Irandust (76th) and Pablo Sabbag (90+6) were the goal-scorers in the final match of the event.

Intercontinental Cup 2024: India vs Syria – HIGHLIGHTS

After the match, Manolo Marquez said, “I am angry with the first half. We were scared and not brave at all. We could’ve avoided the action which caused the first goal. I am satisfied with the second half. The score isn’t a real reflection of the game. We at least deserved to score. The players’ attitude and positioning was better after the break. We were braver and at least created chances. Syria have very good players. They killed us on the counter. They had many chances throughout the game.”

Syria head coach Jose Lana said, “I am very happy with our performance. I’m delighted with how we did in the tournament with a young squad.”

Earlier, India was held to a goalless draw by Mauritius on September 3, while Syria blanked the Mauritians 2-0.

The result meant that Manolo Marquez began his stint as Indian men’s football team head coach, after succeeding Igor Stimac, on a disappointing note. He was appointed at the helm of affairs in July.

Syria had beaten Mauritius 2-0 in their opening match and they thus ended the round-robin league with six points. India and Mauritius finished the tournament on one point each after playing out a goalless draw on September 3.

The highest-ranked team after the round-robin league wins the tournament and there is no final.

India had won the title in 2018 and 2023, while it was the first trophy for Syria who had finished third in 2019.

In fact, this was the first time Syria won a title on Indian soil. The West Asian country has a long history of playing tournaments in India, but a title has eluded them before Monday.

Syria lost back-to-back Nehru Cup finals to India in 2007 and 2009 before finishing fourth in 2012.

In their last trip to India in the 2019 Intercontinental Cup, Syria ended in third place. In that tournament, the two teams played out a 1-1 draw.

In the last meeting between the two teams, Syria had beaten India 1-0 in the Asian Cup in Qatar in January.

(With inputs from Agencies)