(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Turkmenistan's chances of making the 2018 AFC U23 Championship in China suffered a big blow after they played out a goalless draw against Syria in a Group C qualifier at Al Sadd Stadium in Doha yesterday.
Turkmenistan have just one point after two matches. Syria, meanwhile, are on four, but with a match against Qatar coming up next, they too would consider this an opportunity not taken.
Syria were the better team for almost the whole of the first half and most of the second, but they were undone by their inability to take their chances.
Syria had their first sight at goal in the 22nd minute, when Moumen Naji's goal-bound shot came off the shoulder of Ashrov Mekan and looped in dangerously, but goalkeeper Berdiyev Dovletyar pushed it out for a corner.
Naji was again in the thick of the action when he whipped in a cross from the left, only for Mohamad Rafat Muhtadi to send his header from close range wide of the mark.
Muhtadi got another chance to open the scoring when he dispossessed Turkmenistan playmaker Hojavey Resul just outside their area, but his stinging shot came at a comfortable height for Dovletyar, who dived to his right and blocked it back into play.
Turkmenistan were living dangerously and had to resort to desperate defending as Muhtadi chested down a cross from the right for Ahmad Al Ahmad to pull the trigger, but last-ditch blocking came to their rescue.
Syria grew desperate for a goal after half time and as they went all out in search of it, cracks started to appear in their defence with Rejebov Berdimyrat twice coming close to breaking the deadlock. But his presence of mind and finishing on both occasions left a lot to be desired.
Syria frittered away more chances, with substitute forward Abdulhadi Shalha missing a golden opportunity when he sent his shot high and wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.
The match turned a bit rough at times, and Turkmenistan's substitute Gurbankuliyev Guvanchmyrat got his marching orders for dangerous play.
Agamyradov Ahmet, Turkmenistan coach, was disappointed with the result. 'Very bad result for both of us. If we win the next match, we have a very slim chance of qualifying. Both teams were fighting to qualify but we couldn't win. We had a chance only if we win two matches. This one and the next one. But now if Qatar win and we beat India by a big margin we have a chance of finishing second. But it won't be enough. Both teams could have won the match. We had two good chances but of course, Syria had more chances than my team, he said.
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