The Philippines fell short against Syria, 2-1, to open its campaign in the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers on Wednesday in Tajikistan.
After a goalless first half, Mahmoud Al-Aswad scored for Syria in the 63rd minute. Sandro Reyes equalized for the Philippines in the 78th minute, but Mohammad Al-Mustafa quickly responded two minutes later to put Syria back in front and eventually seal the win.
The Philippines will face host country Tajikistan next on Saturday.
The top team from Group K, which includes the Philippines, Tajikistan, Syria, and Nepal, will directly qualify for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup. The four best-ranked runners-up from the 11 groups will also earn a spot in the said tournament.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
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