9.50 pm: FT - India 1-1 Syria
All over! India get their first point in this Intercontinental Cup. A much-improved display from India but a late penalty undoes the good work as Syria steal a point. It is however not enough for the visitors to book a place in the final as DPR Korea will face Tajikistan. Big moment for Narender Gahlot who scored his first goal for India today. All eyes now on tomorrow’s Fifa World Cup qualifiers draw.
9.46 pm: 90+1’ India 1-1 Syria
Four minutes of stoppage time added on at the end of the regulation time.
9.44 pm: 89’ India 1-1 Syria
JUST OVER! Rahul Bheke heads an Anirudh Thapa corner just over the bar. A rare respite for India
9.42 pm: 87’ India 1-1 Syria
India under severe pressure now as Syria push for a winner. Rahul Bheke has been outstanding for India who are clearing one cross after other.
9.39 pm: 84’ India 1-1 Syria
Gurpreet tips an Alkhatib free-kick over the bar. The header from the corner is just over
9.33 pm: 78’ India 1-1 Syria
GOOOOAALLLLL! Alkhatib beats Gupreet from the spot as the visitors equalise. Game on!
9.32 pm: 77’ India 1-0 Syria
PENALTY to Syria! Reckless challenge from substitute Jerry Lalrinzuala. Syria have a chance to equalise
9.29 pm: 74’ India 1-0 Syria
Glum faces among the Syrian fans. The visitors have lacked any cutting edge in the last ten minutes as India have shown greater determination to hold on.
9.21 pm: 66’ India 1-0 Syria
The Syrian players starting to get a bit desperate now. Captain Alkhatib is booked for protesting a refereeing decision. Remember, Syria need to win to reach the final.
9.14 pm: 59’ India 1-0 Syria
India are on top now. A few half chances for India who have spent plenty of time in the opposition goal.
9.12 pm: 57’ India 1-0 Syria
What a moment for the 18-year-old! What celebration!
9.06 pm: 51’ India 1-0 Syria
GOOOOAAAALLLLLLL! 18-year-old Narender Gahlot rises highest to give the hosts the lead. What a solid header there and the hosts are in front
9.05 pm: 50’ India 0-0 Syria
CHANCE! Once again Udanta at the heart of it after Chhetri releases the winger in space but his cross is blocked for a corner by the retreating Syrian defenders
9.03 pm: 47’ India 0-0 Syria
A slight switch by Igor Stimac. Rahul Bheke is playing as the right-sided centre-back while Narender Gahlpot has moved to the left side.
9.00 pm: 46’ India 0-0 Syria
The second half is underway in Ahmedabad. Can India break the deadlock?
8.46 pm: HT - India 0-0 Syria
Goalless at the break. Syria have been the better team in terms of possession and chances, but India have been solid at the back and have threatened on the break. Much better performance by The Blue Tigers in their final Intercontinental Cup match.
8.44 pm: 44’ India 0-0 Syria
Mohamad Anaz booked for a foul on Sunil Chhetri
8.39 pm: 39’ India 0-0 Syria
Yellow card for Narender Gahlot. He is the second Indian player to get booked today
8.37 pm: 37’ India 0-0 Syria
India under pressure. Syria are not letting the hosts get out of their own half. Rahul Bheke though has been a rock in the Indian defence that has been solid enough.
8.29 pm: 29’ India 0-0 Syria
CHANCE! Alkhatib misses a sitter after India go to sleep at the back allowing the Syrian skipper a free run on goal
8.22 pm: 23’ India 0-0 Syria
SAVE! Gurpreet with safe hands to collect Al Marmour’s header that was destined for the back of the net. Nervy moment for India at the back there but not the best header from the Syrian striker.
8.20 pm: 20’ India 0-0 Syria
India holding a good defensive shape, not allowing Syria space to have a shot at Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s goal. The visitors have bossed the game in terms of possession in the last five minutes.
8.13 pm: 13’ India 0-0 Syria
WIDE! Alkhatib drills a low free-kick from 30 yards but it flies wide of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s goal.
8.06 pm: 6’ India 0-0 Syria
CLOSE! Udanta causing Syria all sorts of problems on the right flank. He goes past the defender and fires a low cross which just evades Chhetri and Chhange. That was dangerous for the visitors
8.04 pm: 4’ India 0-0 Syria
Bright start to the game. Udanta Singh finds space and fires in a dangerous cross into the box before Syria almost score through Mohammad Al Marmour who fires his effort wide. Big chance for the visitors
8.00 pm: KICK OFF! Syria get the match underway attacking from left to right in their red strip. India in their usual blue kit.
7.50 pm: All teams here are trying to prepare their team for the future. I have got the best Indian players here and we are trying to give them a chance to show their quality. The Syrian team have many players missing today so it is difficult to gauge their quality before the match starts: India head coach Igor Stimac ahead of the match
TEAM NEWS!
India XI: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Narender Gahlot, Mandar Rao Desai, Amarjit Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul, Udanta Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Sunil Chhetri (C)
Syria XI: Ibrahim Alma (GK), Abdulla Alshami, Youssef Al Hamwi, Mohammad Fares Al Arnaout, Ward Al Slamh, Firas Alkhatib (C), Ahmed Alahmad, Tamer Hag Mohamed, Mohamed Anaz, Khaled Kourdoghli, Mohammad Al Marmour
7.30 pm: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Intercontinental Cup 2019 as India take on Syria in their final outing of the tournament. The Blue Tigers, who won the inaugural edition last year, are out of reckoning for the final after two heavy defeats in their first two matches.
For Syria, however, it will be a must win game, and a victory over India will take the West Asian country to the summit clash against Tajikistan to be played on July 19.
Igor Stimac, India’s new head coach, however would like to see his team play for pride in Ahmedabad and finish on a winning note in what is, on paper, the toughest fixture of the tournament for Blue Tigers.
The Croatian has seen his side ship nine goals in two matches at EKA Arena but there have been flashes of brilliance going forward. It remains to be seen if India can strengthen their defence while continuing to work on the new coach’s passing philosophy.
Sunil Chhetri would also be looking to keep his scoring streak going: he has now scored for India in 10 consecutive home matches.
Kick-off is at 8 pm IST and the match will be telecast on Star Sports.
Here’s a look at the starting XIs: