2012 Nehru Cup: Maldives score an upset against Syria

The Maldives scored a historic 2-1 victory against Syria, the islanders first-ever victory against an Arabian nation, in the 2012 Nehru Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. With the win the Maldives move to six points from three matches and now have a real chance to reach the finals; while Syria, the 2007 and 2009 finalists, are out with only a point to their name so far.

The match had to kick-off late due to continuing monsoon rains in the capital and it did hamper the two sides in the match. Surprisingly Syria adjusted better to the ground conditions while the Maldives needed some time then passing football was simply not possible, so both teams had to rely on aerial balls.

After a goalless first session the match came to life after the breather. Syria attacked a defensive Maldives, but the islanders took the lead through their striker Ali Ashfaq's header in the 59th minute. Syria now went all out into attack, but Maldives goalkeeper Mohamed Imran was often in the way or the strikers could not finish the attacks. In the 81st minute Syria did equalise through an acrobatic bicycle kick from Alaa Al Shbli, who was in an offside position but the ball came off a Maldives defender so the goal was legitimate and allowed.

With Syria equalising and continuing to put pressure on the Maldives defence it seemed only a matter of time when they would score the winner, but towards the end the match opened-up and the Maldives would score the winner of a counter-attack late in injury time when Ahmed Rasheed pushed the ball into an empty net from a Ali Ashfaq square pass.

The winner lead to a lot of discussions on the sidelines with Syria alleging the match was finished and over by then but the Maldives coach Istvan Urbanyi was sent off for dissent as he unnecessarily got involved in the sideline discussions.