This story is from July 17, 2019

Intercontinental Cup: Delhi teen Narender Gahlot strikes, India hold Syria

While defending champions India restored some pride after two embarrassing defeats earlier, Syria bowed out of the Intercontinental Cup in their last league encounter when the match ended in a 1-1 draw here on Tuesday.
Intercontinental Cup: Delhi teen Narender Gahlot strikes, India hold Syria
(Photo Credit: @IndianFootball / twitter)
AHMEDABAD: While defending champions India restored some pride after two embarrassing defeats earlier, Syria bowed out of the Intercontinental Cup in their lastleague encounter when the match ended in a 1-1 draw here on Tuesday. With this result, Tajikistan and North Korea reached the final of this fourteam championship be played on Friday.
Treating it as a preparatory platform for the upcoming 2020 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September, Indian coach Igor Stimac kept up to his reputation and made four changes in the Indian starting line-up.

It was definitely a much better showing from the hosts than their previous two game against North Korea and Tajikitsan. After a goalless first half and with both sides pushing hard for a win, India got the ball rolling soon after the break with young Indian defender Narender Gahlot putting them into the lead, heading home a well taken corner by Anirudh Thapa that left the diving Syrian goalkeeper Ibrahim Alm stranded.

India had missed one just before that when a Sunil Chhetri move was not well intercepted by Udanta Singh in the box.
India’s lead did not last long and the Syrians scored the equalizer through a penalty by their skipper Firas Alkhatib to make it 1-1. Meanwhile, the Indian defenders continued their good work and thwarted a few good moves by their opponents. Overall, it was a much-improved defensive performance from India.
Credit should also be give to the Indian custodian Gurpreet Singh Sanhu who made some brilliant saves, especially one in the first half when Syria’s forward Mohammad Lamarmour found himself between Indian defender Narender Gahlot and Pritam Kotal and headed goalwards. It flew wide to the left of Sandhu who made a fine flying save.
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