India were on the backfoot from the start with Syria going straight into the attack and the first shot deflected by Nishu Kumar beat keeper Vishal Kaith but just went wide of the goal.
Striker Daniel Lalhimpuia had the first chance for India, but his shot went wide. Thereafter it was Syria again and their pressure on the India goal became even more.
Syria’s best chance of the half came in the 24th minute following a corner with Vishal Kaith making an impressive save, the ball touching the inside of the post and then it was cleared by the Indian defence.
Towards the end of the first session, India got out of the grip of the Syrians and moved up themselves. The best chance for the youthful Indians came in the 37th minute when a Germanpreet Singh right-footer hit the post before the Syrian keeper cleared it for a corner. At the break it remained goalless.
After the restart, India seemed more involved and a Manvir Singh header landed in the hands of Syria keeper Mohammed Yazan Ourabi.
But thereafter again India seemed to lose grip of the encounter as Syria upped the pressure and in the 64th minute they went ahead. A lob for Syrian striker Rabie Srour caused a misunderstanding between an out of position keeper Vishal Kaith and left back Jerry Lalrinzuala with Salam Ranjan Singh’s last ditch effort coming too late.
With India going behind they had to risk more going forward. India coach Stephen Constantine made the first substitution in the 72nd minute with Hitesh Sharma coming in for Daniel Lalhimpuia, while a double substitution followed in the 81st minute, Sarthak Golui and Robinson Singh coming in for Lalruatthara and Anirudh Thapa respectively.
But things didn’t change as Syria sealed their win in the 88th minute when Fares Arnaout head home following a corner.
The game ended 2-0 in favour for Syria with the India Juniors coming short of what was needed to beat the west Asians. India next face hosts Qatar on Friday, July 21 in what would be a tougher task for the boys then today.
INDIA U-22: Vishal Kaith – Nishu Kumar, Lalruatthara [C] (81′ 21-Sarthak Golui), 4-Salam Ranjan Singh, 18-Jerry Lalrinzuala – 7-Nikhil Poojary, 19-Anirudh Thapa (81′ 20-Robinson Singh), 6-Germanpreet Singh, 15-Nandha Kumar – 10-Daniel Lalhimpuia (72′ 11-Hitesh Sharma), 9-Manvir Singh