Syria beat Uzbekistan 1-0, keep 2018 FIFA World Cup hopes alive

Krubong (Malaysia) March 24 (IANS) A penalty successfully converted by Omar Kharbin in the dying minutes of the game gave Syria a vital 1-0 win over Uzbekistan that the war-torn country s team needed to keep alive its hopes of advancing towards the 2018 football World Cup finals in Russia.

Kharbin s spot-kick taken in the first minute of the second half s injury time beat veteran Uzbek goalkeeper Aleksandr Lobanov and raised a cheer among 23 million Syrians still in the war-ravaged nation on Thursday reports Efe.

We want to put a smile on Syrian faces said the 23-year-old forward who like 4.3 million refugees has had to make a life for himself away from his native soil.

But Kharbin is a lucky one as he plays in Saudi Arabia for Al-Hilal one of the Middle East s most well-known teams.

He is also well-remunerated compared to fellow teammates who have been conscripted by the army.

A player in Syria s league earns some $200 a month which constitutes good pay in the Middle Eastern country.

Kharbin avoided being called up for service in the army of President Bashar Hafez al-Assad s forces by virtue of being an only child something that disqualifies him from being drafted.

One of the problems of being a war zone is that Syria is not able to play its home games within its own borders.

Hence Thursday s crucial match was played at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Krubong Malaysia a faraway country that has welcomed the squad and given them a home.

The win is Syria s second in the group stage the previous victory was against China a magnificent effort away at Beijing in a country that has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on a much-hoped-for footballing future.

This places Syria fourth in the standings and with six games played it has rekindled hopes that the battle-weary country can qualify for a regional playoff.

If the team overcomes that hurdle it could then face teams from North or Central America or the Caribbean for a berth in the finals.

The squad coached by Ayman Hakeem had taken its task seriously and flown into Malaysia almost a week early to try and overcome jet lag and also get used to the nearly-tropical equatorial weather.

Syria s home away from home has suited them so far with opponents Uzbekistan South Korea and Iran failing to score there.

Despite years of military strife Syria retains a deep love for soccer and on Thursday its embattled population had something to cheer about.

--IANS
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