Shami Singamayum’s 86th-minute strike gives India U-20 a 1-0 win over Syria U-20
India U-20 beat Syria U-20 1-0 at the Do’stlik Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Monday, August 31, 2026, in an AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers match. Shami Singamayum scored the decisive goal in the 86th minute to secure a winning start to India’s Group B campaign.
The victory was India’s first-ever competitive win over Syria at the U-19/U-20 level and came under head coach Mahesh Gawali. Gawali’s side defended in numbers for the majority of the match, showing the defensive organisation that produced a fifth successive clean sheet following four shutouts in pre-qualifier friendlies. The result gave India an opening triumph in Group B.
Syria applied sustained pressure from distance in the opening half, with Alan Mamo testing India goalkeeper Suraj Singh Aheibam with a right-footed effort; Suraj parried the shot behind for a corner. Abdulrahman Al Sarraj attempted a long-range effort later in the period, which Suraj collected comfortably. India absorbed that early spell without conceding.
A set-piece threatened to break the deadlock shortly before the interval when Mamo floated a corner toward the far post and a miscued Syrian volley fell to captain Belal Almooslee. His resulting header missed the crossbar by inches, keeping the score level at half-time. The Syrian initiative persisted after the break.
In the second half, Al Sarraj cut the ball back in the 58th minute for Mahmoud Alhasan, whose chipped attempt was kept out by the alert Suraj. Syria went even closer in the 73rd minute when Mamo’s cross found substitute Ahmad Khalaf and his header struck the crossbar. Those opportunities left India relying on their defensive organisation.
Mahesh Gawali introduced Md Arbash, Prashan Jajo and Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam in a triple substitution in the 79th minute, with Omang Dodum added four minutes later. Seven minutes after coming on, Arbash reacted when Alhasan slipped, ran onto the loose ball inside the penalty area and cut it back to Shami Singamayum. Shami, having made a continued run into the box, calmly slotted a left-footed finish into the net in the 86th minute.
The goal prompted jubilant celebrations in the Indian dugout, and India remained composed during the closing stages to protect their slender advantage and complete the 1-0 victory. The Blue Colts recorded another shutout to maintain their clean-sheet run.
India will next face Uzbekistan on September 3 at 19:30 IST in their AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Group B fixture.