Syria became the first side to confirm their place in the Finals after a hard-fought 3-0 win over Myanmar in their AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round Group E tie at the Thuwanna Stadium.
A late brace from Pablo’ Sabbag and Mohammad Al Salkhadi’s strike took Syria to a perfect 12 points with Myanmar six behind – having lost both encounters with the West Asian side.
Both teams started slowly, with Al Salkhadi’s shot from distance in the 18th minute taking a deflection and going wide while Mahmoud Alwaswad’s tame effort three minutes later was easily collected by keeper Sann Sat Naing.
Syria’s attacking line kept the hosts busy for the rest of the first half, but they left the pitch with no goals to show after Sabbag was ruled offside after beating Sann with a lob and then seeing the keeper dive to the left to keep out his 25-yard shot.
Myanmar came out stronger after the break, with Hein Htet Aung surging down the right flank and threatening in the 52nd minute but his shot across goal was easily collected by custodian Elias Hadaya.
Sabbag’s shot from the edge of the penalty area three minutes later went just wide while Alaswad’s break down the left after collecting a backheel by Sabbag saw the ball roll agonisingly close past the left post.
Syria kept the pressure on, with Al Salkhadi nicely set up by Sabbag in the 63rd minute only to stab his close range shot wide before Sabbag struck the first goal when he slipped the ball past Saan from the area in the 80th minute.
Sabbag got his second five minutes later when he stabbed in the ball following a free-kick before Al Salkhad completed their win in the 87th minute.
Tajikistan stayed on course to reach the Asian Cup after defeating Maldives 3-0 in their Group A tie. Shervoni Mabatshoev netted a brace following Manuchehr Safarov’s opener as Tajikistan did the double against Maldives to move on to 10 points.
Philippines came from behind to defeat Timor-Leste 3-1 in their Group A tie. The win moved Philippines to 10 points, level with Tajikistan.
Lebanon stayed top of Group B thanks to a 4-0 win against Bhutan, taking their tally to 10 points, Miodrag Radulovic’s side are on course for a third successive appearance at the Finals.
Yemen completed a double over Brunei Darussalam, cruising to a 9-0 win in their Group B tie. Nasser Mohammedoh’s five goals set the tone for the emphatic finish as Yemen kept pace with Lebanon.
Hong Kong, China were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Bangladesh in their Group C tie. Having taken the lead through Matt Orr in the first half, Hong Kong, China looked set for the three points but were undone by Rakib Hussain’s late equaliser.
Singapore stayed in sight of a place in the Asian Cup after coming from behind to defeat India 2-1 in their Qualifiers Group C tie.
Song Ui-young netted both goals as victory took Singapore level on eight points with Hong Kong, China, with the sides to meet on November 18, while defeat meant elimination for India.
Teerasak Poeiphimai starred with a hat-trick as Thailand cruised to a 6-1 victory over Chinese Taipei in Group D tie at the Taipei Municipal Stadium.
The win kept Thailand’s qualification hopes alive with the Southeast Asian side moving up to nine points.
Turkmenistan remained in control of their destiny after sealing a 2-1 win over Sri Lanka in Group D. The victory meant Turkmenistan are back on top of the group, level on eight points with Thailand with a favourable head-to-head record against the Southeast Asian side.
Afghanistan and Pakistan played out a 1-1 stalemate in Group E clash at the Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah Stadium on Tuesday. The result follows their goalless draw last week and leaves them with two draws and an equal number of losses after four matches.
An early own goal gifted Vietnam a 1-0 win over Nepal in Group F. The win lifted Vietnam to nine points, three behind leaders Malaysia while Nepal remained anchored at the bottom of the group after losing all four of their matches.
Malaysia roared in the second half to defeat Laos 5-1 in Group F. Laos led 1-0 at half time but Romel Morales led a resurgent Malaysia with a second half brace to seal the points.
Peter Cklamovski made one change from the Malaysian side that won 3-0 in Vientiane on Thursday with Faisal Halim replacing Nazmi Faiz while Ha Hyeok-jun opted to start with Sonevilay Phetviengsy and Bounphaeng Xaysombath in place of Anantaza Siphongphan and Khammanh Thapaseut.
The first opening of the match fell to Morales in the fifth minute, his fiercely hit shot pushed away by Kok Lokphathip but it was Laos who would open the scoring in the 20th minute.
Malaysia only half cleared a corner, with the ball landing nicely for Chanthavixay Khounthoumphone, whose long range drive took a deflection off Shahrul Saad which wrongfooted Ahmad Syihan Hazmi and landed in the net.
Laos had to work hard to fend off the home side, constantly double-teaming on Faisal and Arif Aiman as they held onto their lead going into the interval.
Malaysia heaped the pressure on Laos in the second half with Faisal and Arif becoming increasingly influential with the former producing a superb equaliser a minute under the hour mark.
Faisal was fouled on the edge of the box and the Selangor winger dusted himself off to curl a stunning free-kick past Lokphathip into the top corner to draw Malaysia level.
The turnaround was completed in the 65th minute when Morales exchanged passes with Arif before turning away from Phetdavanh Somsanid to fire home, with the Johor Darul Ta’zim FC forward then tapping home from close range five minutes later.
It got worse for Laos 10 minutes later when Thapaseut scored an own goal with Paulo Josue netting a fifth in the 82nd minute to complete the comeback.
Group A: Maldives 0-3 Tajikistan; Philippines 3-1 Timor-Leste
Group B: Bhutan 0-4 Lebanon; Yemen 9-0 Brunei Darussalam
Group C: Hong Kong, China 1-1 Bangladesh; India 1-2 Singapore
Group D: Chinese Taipei 1-6 Thailand; Turkmenistan 2-1 Sri Lanka
Group E: Myanmar 0-3 Syria; Afghanistan 1-1 Pakistan
Group F: Nepal 0-1 Vietnam; Malaysia 5-1 Laos
