Palestine, making just their second appearance at the continental showpiece, survived the second half sending off of Mohammed Saleh to earn a stoic point in Sharjah.
Here are three talking points from the game.
SYRIA FAIL TO SHINE AFTER WORLD CUP HEROICS
Omar Al Somah celebrates giving Syria the lead against Australia in Sydney in their World Cup second-leg play-off encounter.
Although Australia, South Korea, Iran and Japan are seen as the powerhouses of Asian football, much is expected of Syria at this tournament following a coming of age party during their memorable road towards qualifying for last summer’s World Cup.
It was a journey that ultimately ended in an Australian blockade as the Socceroos somehow stumbled to Russia via the narrowest of play-off victories against Bernd Stange’s men in oceanic qualifying.
The Qasioun Eagles – who have never even been beyond the initial stages of the Asian Cup in five previous appearances – almost soared into a maiden World Cup when they ascended to the fourth and final round of Asian World Cup qualifying in October 2017.
Australia needed an extra-time strike from Tim Cahill to earn a narrow 3-2 aggregate win to advance to the inter-confederation play-offs where passage to Russia was secured with a two-legged 3-1 win over Honduras.
Needless to say, their heroic journey has led to a feeling that big things can be achieved by Omar Khrbin, Omar Al Somah and Co in the UAE this month.
Syria will need to show plenty more guile and craft though than they did here against limited Palestine who were more than happy to see the game stagnate into an attritional affair.
Even though their opponents were determined not to play an expansive and open game, Syria resorted to pumping long balls forward, with next to no quality offered in front of goal. That will need to change against Jordan on Thursday.
PLUCKY PALESTINE RECEIVE A JOLT FROM JORDAN
Mohammed Saleh receives the first of two yellow cards.
If Palestine were looking for inspiration ahead of taking on the rising force of Syria, they need have looked no further than the performance from underdogs Jordan in the earlier Group B kick-off against Australia.
The reigning champions were dispatched 1-0 at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium thanks to a mix of steely determination, focus and heroic defending – with particular mention needing to be made of goalkeeper Amir Shafi, who made several top stops.
Palestine’s task over in Sharjah was made all the more harder by the 69th-minute dismissal of centre-back Saleh, who received a second yellow for a crude elbow to the head of Khrbin.
It must have felt like déjà vu for the Lions of Canaan, who have now had a player sent off in both of their opening group games at the Asian Cup, with Ahmed Mahajna dismissed against Japan four years ago.
But they roared into life to pounce on a vital point. The red card meant an already scrappy game descended into a backs to the wall rear-guard effort from Noureddine Ould Ali’s men, who came through with flying colours, and will now head into a daunting second encounter with the Socceroos with a spring in their step.
SYRIA NEED STAR DUO TO SHINE
Omar Khrbin is a bright talent for Syria and is well known to UAE football fans.
Syria’s two star men arrive in the Emirates amid differing fortunes in front of goal – Bernd Stange will need both Khrbin and Al Somah singing from the same hymn sheet if Syria are to give their fans another harmonious footballing experience.
Veteran Al Ahli striker Al Somah, 29, comes into the tournament in fine form for his Saudi employers – he has 11 strikes in 13 Pro League games this season, including nine in his last seven outings.
He is already a hero for his nation having scored the decisive goal in a 2-2 draw with Iran in September 2017 that saw them advance to that play-off with Australia – it was his first Syria goal in a stop-start international career.
Youngster Khrbin, 24, is the perfect foil in attack and is well known to UAE audiences, having enjoyed a prolific stint with Arabian Gulf League side Al Dhafra (17 league goals were registered in 26 games during an 18-month spell between 2016-17 before Saudi behemoths Al Hilal came calling).
He was even more crucial in Syria’s run to the brink of World Cup qualification with 10 goals on the road to Russia. Yet he is in poor form ahead of the Asian Cup, having not scored for his club side since April.
Neither man could find the breakthrough against a plucky Palestine. Syria cannot afford either to endure another off day in Thursday’s clash with Jordan – anything less than victory will leave them facing the precarious scenario of likely needing to get a result against champions Australia in their Group B finale.
