Doha: Qatar were left staring at elimination after being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Syria in their FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 Group A tie at the Khalifa International Stadium on Thursday.
The stalemate gave the hosts their first point, with Syria joining Palestine on four. Tunisia – who play Qatar on Sunday – also have a single point to their name.
A disappointed Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui, soon after the game, said, “All I can say is that it’s football.
I think our level of play was far better than what it was against Palestine in the opening match. “We were much better today.
We did all that you have to do to win a game but it’s football. Very big sorry to all our fans. So sorry for all of them, but today I feel that we did a lot of things to win. We had many chances.
“There was a penalty too for us but I can’t understand how they (VAR) change this opinion because it was very clear. “I don’t have any words, but for my players, we have to know to defend till the last minute a bit better, but when they score like that, what you can say.
We now have to be ready for the next match.
Two-time AFC Asian Cup champions Qatar tested the waters as early as the second minute with Edmilson Junior’s inswinging cross forcing Syria keeper Elias Hadaya to intervene with a punch while at the other end, Meshaal Barsham thwarted Omar Khribin’s pass to Antonio Yakoub.
Syria were let off the hook in the 10th minute when Mohamed Manai arrowed his stinging shot just wide of the right post following Akram Afif’corner, before another chance went begging two minutes later with Homam Ahmed seeing his effort drift past a fully stretched Hadaya only for the ball to bounce off the right post.
Qatar looked more dangerous with Jassem Gabe testing Hadaya from distance in the 20th minute while at the other end, Mahmoud Al Mawas drove inside the box before laying the ball nicely for Khribin, whose shot was blocked. Edmilson continued to cause problems for Syria, setting up Tarek Salman whose shot hit the side netting.
Syria had closed shaves in the second half with Hadaya pulling off a fine save to deny Edmilson in the 51st minute, before Ahmad Faqa was at the right place at the right time to deny Abdulaziz Hatem’s shot from inside the box after Afif’s cutback.
Julen Lopetegui’s side, who needed a win after their opening day loss to Palestine, thought they had a lifeline at the hour mark when Zakaria Hannan tripped Homam Ahmed inside the box, only for the referee to wave off the penalty following a VAR review.
Syria’s defence was finally breached in the 77th minute when Edmilson delivered a precise cross into the box to Ahmed Alaaeldin, who beat a rooted Hadaya with a glancing header into the top left corner of the net.
A lapse in concentration in the 90th minute left Qatar in disbelief with Khribin beating Barsham with a curling effort from distance to salvage a point for Syria and keep them on track for the knockout stage.
