Almawas showed his composure and hit the same corner to gift Syria a comfortable lead.

China controlled well in the next half hour but Gao Lin and Zhang Xizhe missed series of chances.

Zhang Linpeng had been very close to equalized for China in the final minute of the first half, but his header hit the crossbar.

The second half saw China almost dominated the whole pitch and finally pull the match level in the 68th minute. Nassouh Nakkdahli's foul on Zhang Linpeng inside the box was clearly witnessed by the referee. Gao Lin beat the pressure to convert the penalty.

Only seven minute later, substitute Xiao Zhi's header found Wu Xi, whose volley made the keeper no chance and China were in front.

Syria spared all their efforts in the final minutes, but China showed their solid defense. The referee made a huge decision in the injury time to award a freekick to Syria after Hao Junmin and Tamer Hag Mohamad's air due. Al Saleh's curling effort in the last minute went round of the wall and rocketed into the far corner.

China's Captain Feng Xiaoting was in tears after the final whistle.

"We did so well in the second half, and we almost touched the victory. But this is football. It is so hard for me to accept the result, but we will fight to the end." he said.

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