Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuwait City: The 2007 AFC Asian Cup winners Iraq maintained their position at the top of Group C after they were held 1-1 by Syria in the ongoing 2012 WAFF Championship.
Iraq, who are in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2015 alongside with Saudi Arabia, China and Indonesia, top Group C of the WAFF Championship with four points from two matches while Thursday’s match was Syria’s first match of the campaign. Iraq had earlier defeated Jordan 1-0 who are languishing at the bottom of the table.
An own goal from Hamdi Almassri gave Iraq an ideal start as early as in the 11th minute but Syria pegged one back through Almed Aldouni in the 47th minute to snatch a precious point.
Iraq will open their AFC Asian Cup 2015 qualifying campaign by hosting Indonesia on 6 February 2013 while Syria are in Group A alongside with West Asia’s rivals Jordan and Oman and Singapore.
Syria’s crucial Sunday tie against Jordan will provide coach Hosam Al Saed much-needed ideas about the Jordanians as both the sides are in Group A with Syria travelling to Oman and Jordan hosting Singapore in their opening fixtures of the AFC Asian Cup 2015 qualifiers. The West Asia neighbours will face each other in March.