the-afc.com
Having been so evenly matched in the 2018 qualifiers, drawing both their games, the two sides have had contrasting fortunes this time around.
Syria replaced Tunisian coach Nabil Maaloul with local tactician Nizar Mahrous following the conclusion of the second round of the qualifiers and have since not won a single competitive match, drawing two and losing three including a 1-0 opening day reversal against their upcoming opponents. As a result, the Qasioun Eagles find themselves rooted to the bottom of their group – a far cry from four years earlier when they finished third and advanced to the playoff round.
Croatian Dragan Skokic, meanwhile, led Team Melli to the top of their second round group after taking charge in February with the Iranians having won four of their five third round matches, only dropping points to Korea Republic in a 1-1 home draw last month.
The two sides have a rich history of meeting in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with their first encounter dating back to 1973 when they exchanged 1-0 wins in the West Germany 1974 qualifiers. They have since met in qualifiers to 1978, 1994, 1998, 2010 and 2018, but Syria’s win in 1973 remains their only victory over the Iranians in the qualifiers, with the other 12 encounters ending in six Iranian wins and as many draws.
In the reverse fixture on the opening matchday, Syria defended resolutely but a second-half strike from Alireza Jahanbakhsh secured a home win at Azadi Stadium. The Feyenoord Rotterdam striker has since added two more goals to top the scorers’ charts at this stage of the qualifiers. Meanwhile, Syria’s leading scorers Omar Al Soma and Omar Kharbin have two goals each, combining for 80 percent of their side’s goals in Group A.
Both sides saw late goals in their most recent outing on Thursday, for the Iranians it was two from Sardar Azmoun and Ahmad Nourollahi that secured a hard fought 2-1 victory against Lebanon, while for Syria the goal came in their net, with Amir Al Ammari equalising for Iraq with four minutes to go to cancel out Al Soma’s opener five minutes earlier.
Syria v Islamic Republic of Iran
Venue: King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Venue: King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
*Poll ends at 23:00 hours (UTC+8) on November 16.
-
AFC ASIAN QUALIFIERS
Preview – Group A: Korea Republic wary as Iraq seek first win
