Tashkent, Aug. 31 -- India made a scintillating start to their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers campaign, defeating Syria 1-0 at the Do'stlik Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Monday, August 31, 2026.

Shami Singamayum scored the decisive goal in the 86th minute, finishing a fine move involving substitute Md Arbash to give the Blue Colts a winning start to their Group B campaign. It marked India's first-ever competitive win over Syria in the U19/U20 age group.

India was made to withstand sustained Syrian pressure for much of the contest, but they never wavered. Mahesh Gawali's side dropped deep, soaked it up and displayed impressive defensive organisation to record another clean sheet, their fifth in suc...