India U20 defeats Syria 1-0 in AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers opener

India’s U20 men’s national team secured a historic 1-0 victory over Syria in their opening match of the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. The match, held at the Do’stlik Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, saw Shami Singamayum score the decisive goal in the 86th minute following a move involving substitute Md Arbash.

Despite the win, the Indian side, coached by Mahesh Gawali, faced sustained pressure from Syria throughout the contest. Syria nearly took the lead on multiple occasions, including a header from Ahmad Khalaf that struck the crossbar in the 73rd minute. However, Indian goalkeeper Suraj Singh Aheibam maintained a clean sheet, marking his fifth consecutive shutout including pre-qualifier friendlies.

This victory represents India’s first-ever competitive win against Syria in the U19/U20 age category. The result places India in a strong position in Group B, which also includes hosts Uzbekistan and Bangladesh. India is aiming to qualify for the AFC U20 Asian Cup for the first time since 2006.