The Philippine Men’s Under-23 National Team began their AFC U-23 Asian Cup tournament with a frustrating loss against Syria last night, September 3, Wednesday.
A Scoreless 1st Half of Action
The opening 45 minutes saw both teams locked in a tight battle at the Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Neither side could find the breakthrough despite several half-chances, with both goalkeepers keeping their teams alive. Nicholas Guimares stood tall for the Filipinos, while Maksim Sarraf matched him on the Syrian end, ensuring the match remained scoreless at halftime.
A Back-and-Forth 2nd Half Action: Philippines Failed to Draw the Match
The deadlock was finally broken in the 61st minute when Syrian skipper Mahmoud Al Aswad unleashed a strike that slipped past Guimares, handing Syria a 1-0 lead. The goal shifted momentum toward the Syrians, who pressed forward aggressively in search of a second.
Photo Credits: AFC U-23 Asian Cup
Refusing to be rattled, the Filipinos fought back. Team captain Sandro Reyes produced a stunning long-range equalizer in the 78th minute, igniting hopes of a comeback. The goal not only brought the Philippines level but also gave them a surge of confidence as the match entered its final stretch.
However, their celebration was short-lived. Just two minutes later, striker Mohammad Al Mustafa pounced on a loose ball inside the box for a simple tap-in, restoring Syria’s advantage in the 80th minute. Despite late efforts from the Philippines, the Syrians held on to secure the victory and a winning start in Group K.
FINAL SCORE: SYRIA 2 – 1 PHILIPPINES
Up Next: A Must-Win 2nd Game Against Tajikistan
Considering that the Elimination Stage only has 3 games for each team, the Philippines now enters the danger zone as they play a tough Tajikistan team.
Also in Group K, Tajikistan just demolished Nepal earlier with a final score of 4-0.
The end result of the match against Syria spoiled the debut of Spanish Head Coach Michael Martinez Alvarez, who took charge of the squad for the first time.
The Philippines will look to regroup quickly as they face tournament hosts Tajikistan on Sunday at 12 a.m. (Manila time), still at the Pamir Stadium.
