New Delhi: Syria beat Kyrgyzstan 2-0 without breaking a sweat in their opening match of the Nehru Cup football tournament in the Capital at the Ambedkar Stadium on Thursday.
Syria, ranked 96th on the FIFA charts, were clinical in their play and there was little that the 160th ranked Kyrgyzstan could do except keep the tally down to a goal in each half.
Strikes from Mohammad Al Zeno (9th) and Abdul Fatah Alaga (77th) were enough to prove that it would not be easy to send last edition's runners-up home without the cup.
This Syrian side is a much younger compared to the one that lost to India in the 2007 final with Al Zeno, Ali Dyab and Wael Ayan being their most experienced players who figured in the last edition.
The three stalwarts are the players to watch out.
Star striker Alzeno caught the Kyrgyzstan defence by surprise with his raw pace and power and gave Syria the lead with a diving header off midfielder Ayan's cross from the right.
Though they had to wait for quiet some time to double their lead, Syria's creativity in the mid-field showed why they are at the top of their group in the Asian Cup qualifiers, where they have been clubbed with China, Lebanon, and Vietnam.
For Syria, the Nehru Cup may be just a practice tournament in their bid to qualify for the Asian Cup, but they look serious to take the cup from here if today's performance is any indication.
For most part of the game Syria enjoyed better ball possession while Kyrgyzstan had to work hard to stitch a move.
Dyab, the vital cog in the Syrian defence, hardly allowed Kyrgyzstan forwards Usanov Rushem and Amirov Ildar to get the better of him.
To make matters worse for them, Kyrgyzstan were reduced to 10 after Ablakimov Roman was red-carded for a nasty tackle on Alaga midway through the second session.
Alaga doubled the lead with a solo run into the box and slotted past Mahash Pavli.
Kyrgyzstan came close to reducing the margin in the dying minutes of the game, but Rushem shot wide with an open goal in front.
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