INDIA TEAM: Subrata Paul, Surkumar Singh, N.P. Pradeep (Abhishek Yadav 89), Mahesh Gawli, N.S. Manju, Steven Dias,Gourmangi Singh,Climax Lawrence, Clifford Miranda (K. Ajayan 70), Biachung Bhutia (Capt.), Sunil Chettri

SYRIA TEAM: Mowssab Blahowss, Khaled M Albba, Aatef Jenyat (Ali Alrfaai 80), Mootassem Alaya(Mahmoud Al Amena 74), Ali Dyeb, Zeen Alabeden, Al Fandi, Waerl Ayan (Abraheim Al Hasan 71),Mahmoud Alzeno,Feras Esmaeel, Zyad Chaabo

Both the teams failed to attack in the first half. However Bangladesh took the lead through Mohd. Abul Hussain who headed the ball into the Cambodian defense after an accurate corner taken by veteran Mohd. Alfaz Ahmed. This was the first goal by Bangladesh in the tournament.It seems that the Cambodian defenders have not done their homework after giving away 9 goals in just 2 matches.Cambodians had no shots on goal. The play was mainly in the middle of the park where the midfielders were battling it out for possession and giving it away cheaply .

At half time, Bangladesh lead 1-0. The next half was no different as both the teams struggled to keep the ball. The Coaches did make substitutions but to no avail . Cambodia lacked the attacking panache to score.A Bangladesh victory was on the cards but in the last minute of playing time, Cambodian midfielder Keo Kosal spoiled the Bangla party. Keo Kosal tapped in the ball after receiving a perfect pass from medio Samel Nasa.The match ended with both teams evenly matched. The Man of the Match Award went to Bangladesh's Mohd. Abul Hussain.

Kyrgyzstan were not the one's who could be stopped either as they launched a massive attack on the Syrian goal. It bore results just 6 minutes after the first goal of the match as Syrian defender Ali Dyeb put the ball behind the Syrian net to his horror.

Both the teams attacked from thereon, though Syrtia were more on the offensive. In the 33rd minute, defender Talant Samsaliev put the ball in for Ruslan Djamshidov who hit a half-volley which didn't trouble the Syrian keeper at all.

The most feared striker of the tournament Zyad Chaabo joined his skipper on the scoresheet in the 43rd minute. Left winger Mohd. Alzeno crossed and a diving header from Zyad was enough to beat the Kyrgyzstan goalkeeper.

At half time , Syria lead 2-1.

Syrians continued to attack in the second half. Just 2 minutes after the break and winger Mond. Alzeno went past two defenders and shot the ball which hit the top of the right post.

The tempo of the game was pretty much the same as the first 45. In the 70th minute, Mohd Alzeno scored to give Syria an indomitable lead. Syria lead 3-1. Mohd. Alzeno continued his good run and in the 82nd minute tested the rival goalkeeper. The rebound saw Abrahiem Al Hasan score his first in the tournament .Both the second hlaf goals were a rsult of Syrian counterattack.

Kyrgyzstan did try to come back in the match but couldn't get past the rock solid Syrian defense led by Zeen Al Abeden Al Fandi. The Man of the Match Award went to Syrian number 23 Captain Al Sayed for his efforts in the front of the goal.

The Kyrgyzstan Coach Nematjan Zakirov didn't come for the post-match conference.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Coach Fajer Ibraahem was satisfied with his team's performance. When asked whether he had a special plan for India, the Coach answered in the affirmative. He said," We have seen them (India) play twice against Bangladesh and Cambodia".

The Coach went expressed pleasure that his team had adapted to the Indian conditions well. He went to say that the match against India on Thursday would be a " dress rehearsal of the final".

Teams:

Syria: Mowssab Blahowss, Ali Dyeb, Mohammed Alzeno, Zeen Alabedan Al Fandi, Mootassem Alaya, Khaled M. Albaba, Maher Al Sayed (Capt)., Wael Ayan (Abrahiem Al Hasan 71), Aatef Jenyat (Ali Alrifaai 68), Zyad Chaabo (Mahmoud al Amena (83) and Mohammed Alzeno

Kyrgyztan: Valeria Kashuba, Talant Samsaliev, Amin Viacheslav (Timur Valiev 65), Sergei Kniazev, Bakytbek Mamatov , Aibek Bokoev, Davron Askarov (Pavel Sidorenko 74), Vadim Harchenko , Ruslan Djamshidov, Roman Kornilov, Lut Fullaev (Ildar Amirov 47)

News source Courtesy:www.goal.com

India created a lot of chances but Bangladesh were not far behind. It could have been a goal scoring spree had 50 percent of the chances were converted into goals.Captain Baichung Bhutia scored the all important goal on the 5th minute of the match. Mid-fielders and the forward line played well like a cohesive unit and created openings a number of times. Indian defense on the other hand were a little nervous in patches as absence of N.P Pradeep was felt.

Excellent performance of Subrata Paul under the bar made the decision of Bob Houghton justified putting him in place of veteran Sandip Nandy. Paul rescued team India a in a number of occasions where the defenders came close of conceding goals.After two consecutive wins under the belt, India will take on the Syrians on 23rd August which could well be a rehearsal for the Final match.

India’s team:

Subrata Paul, Surkumar Singh, Deepak Mondal (Syed Rahim Nabi), Mahesh Gawli, N.S. Manju, Steven Dias, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Climax Lawrence, Renedy Singh (Clifford Miranda, Baichung Bhutia (Capt.—Tarif Ahmed) and SunilChettri.

Bangladesh:

Bipalab Bhattacharjee, Mohd Ariful Islam, Rajni kanta Burman, Kazi nazrul islam (Capt.), Mohd Waly Faisal, Mohd Zahid Hossain, Mohd Abul Hossain, Arman Aziz, Firoj Mahmud Hossain, Jahid Hasan Ameli and Mohd Robin (Mohd Alfaz Ahmed)

Man of the Match: Subrata Paul (India)

Referee: Surendra Sikhrakar (Nepal)

A Kolkatafootball.com Report.

But the Cambodians came back in the 34th minute with midfielder Hok Sotitya to score their first goal in the tournament. Hot Sotitya was confident after the first goal and single handedly changed the game by equalizing in the 41st minute. Cambodia added another in the 43rd minute to lead the match at half time. This time it was midfielder Chin Chum adding his name to the score sheet. The second half started with the same gusto from both the sides.Just 3 minutes after the break and Kyrgyzstan equalized this time with Djamshidov scoring with an angular shot from the left.

Kyrgyzstan maintained the pressure and it finally paid off when midfielder Harchenko Vadim gave them the lead back in the 65th minute.Thereafter, Kyrgyzstan defended well and didn't give the Cambodians an iota of chance anymore.The winning Coach Nematjan Zakirov said," The conditions favoured the Cambodians as it was hot and humid."The Cambodian Coach Scott O'Donnell added that it was a learning experience for his team and promised a better play from his side.The Man of the Match was Cambodian medio Hok Sititya for his commanding influence on the game especially in the first half.

News source courtesy:www.goal.com