Doha, SANA – The Syrian Olympic U-23 football team qualified for the final of the 2015 West Asian Football Federation Championship (WAFF) U-23 Championship after defeating Qatar 2-0 in the semi-finals match held in the Qatari capital of Doha on Saturday.

The first goal was scored by Khaled al-Mubayyed at the 47 minutes mark at the start of the second half, and the second goal was scored by Abdullah al-Chami during the extra time at the 95 minutes mark.

The Syrian team maintained control over the proceedings of the first half despite the Qatari team’s home advantage, maintaining pressure on the Qatari goalie but failing to score due to rashness and poor luck, but at the start of the second half al-Mubayyed delivered a powerful shot from within the penalty box that the Qatari goalie couldn’t stop.

After the goal, the Syrian team maintained pressure while the Qatari team tried to score the equalizer with crosses, but failed to get past the Syrian defense and the goalie, and at the very end of the match al-Chami snatched the ball from midfield, circumventing the Qatari defenders and scoring the second goal.

With this victory, the Syrian Olympic team qualified for the final of the championship which will be held on Wednesday, were it will meet the victor from the second semi-finals match between Yemen and Iran which will be held later on Saturday.

The Syrian team reached the semi-finals after coming out on top of Group C in the groups stage, defeating the UAE 2-0 and Oman 2-0.

Hazem Sabbagh