Syria’s clinical finishing proved too much for Mauritius as they cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory in their opening match of the Intercontinental Cup 2024 at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium. The result eliminated Mauritius from the tournament, while Syria remains in contention for the title.
In his first game in charge of Syria, José Lana witnessed a dominant performance from his team. Mustafa Abdullatif opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Mauritius. Mahmoud Al-Mawas, who was a constant threat throughout the match, sealed the victory with a stunning goal in the 70th minute.
Mauritius had their chances, but they were unable to convert them. Aurélien François’ long-range effort was saved by Syrian goalkeeper Esteban Glellel in the third minute, while Jason Ferré had a goal ruled out for handball in the 44th minute.
Syria controlled the tempo of the game, gradually building momentum and creating several scoring opportunities. Al-Mawas was particularly impressive, providing the assist for Abdullatif’s goal and scoring the second himself.
With this victory, Syria has put themselves in a strong position to win the Intercontinental Cup. They will face India in their final match, and a win will secure the trophy. India, on the other hand, needs a victory to lift the title, while a draw will be enough for Syria.
