Syria defeated defending champions India 3-0 in the final group match to win the Intercontinental Cup 2024 football title at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.
Mahmoud Al Aswad (7’), Daleho Irandust (76’) and Pablo Sabbag (90+6’) scored for world No. 93 Syria on either side of the half-time break to finish their campaign with six points. The Indian men’s football teamranked 124, finished their campaign without scoring a goal.
Earlier in the tournament, India and Mauritius played out a goalless draw in the opening match. Syria then defeated Mauritius 2-0 and overcame hosts India 3-0 to win the trophy.
Syria dominated the proceedings in the early minutes and took a deserved lead in the seventh minute. Mahmoud Al Aswad’s initial attempt to cross was blocked by the Indian defenders, but when he got another opportunity, he found a way past keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
Despite having possession for a major part of the first half, Manolo Marquez’s side couldn’t test the Syrian keeper Elias Hadaya.
In the early minutes of the second half, the hosts kept the Syrian defenders busy and made plenty of runs into the box, but lacked a good finishing touch.
Just as the Indian football team was upping the ante, Daleho Irandust doubled Syria’s lead to wrap up the proceedings. Irandust found himself in acres of space on the right flank on a counter and his shot towards the near post found a way through the Indian custodian.
With the result nearly sealed, some individual efforts nearly helped India pull one goal back. Elias Hadaya made a couple of terrific saves to keep out the efforts from Edmund Lalrindika and Naorem Mahesh Singh.
With over a minute left in added time, Syria once again struck the hosts on a counter to score their third goal of the match. Mahmoud Al-Mawas made a terrific run into the box before setting up Pablo Sabbag to tap home from close range.
Syria are the third country to win the Intercontinental Cup. India won the tournament in 2018 and 2023, while the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea won in 2022.
