Syria thrash Kyrgyzstan 4-1 in Nehru Cup

AFP - 21 August 2007 19:24

Syria´s Zyad Chaabo(R) is challenged by Samsaliev Talant of Kyrgyztan during their match in the Nehru Cup in New Delhi. Title contenders Syria won 4-1 to record their second successive win in the five-nation tournament.

NEW DELHI (AFP) - Title contenders Syria brushed aside Kyrgyzstan 4-1 to record their second successive win in the five-nation Nehru Cup football tournament here on Tuesday.

The Syrians, who beat Bangladesh 2-0 in their first match, led 2-1 at half-time.

Maher El Sayed put Syria ahead in the seventh minute, but Kyrgyzstan were lucky to draw level six minutes later when Syrian defender Ali Dyeb lobbed the ball into his own goal while trying to clear.

Zyad Chaabo put Syria ahead again a minute before half-time and the emphatic victory was sealed by two second-half goals from Mohammed Alzeno in the 70th minute and Abraheim Al-Hasan in the 82nd.

After two rounds of matches, Syria and hosts India lead the round-robin league with two wins each. Kyrgyzstan has one win while Bangladesh and Cambodia have lost both matches so far.

The top two teams will advance to the final on August 29.

Bangladesh take on Cambodia on Wednesday with both teams seeking their first points in the tournament.