Philippines falls short against Syria in U-23 Asian Cup Qualifier opener

The Philippine Under-23 Men’s National Team opened its campaign in the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers with a close 2-1 defeat to Syria at the Central Stadium in Tajikistan on Thursday night.

Despite showing grit and determination throughout the contest, the Young Azkals were undone by two late strikes from the Syrians. 

After Mahmoud Al Aswad gave Syria the breakthrough in the 78th minute, midfielder Sandro Reyes quickly equalized for the Philippines with a composed finish that momentarily revived hopes of stealing a point.

However, the joy was short-lived as Mohammed Al-Mustafa pounced on a defensive lapse just two minutes later, restoring Syria’s advantage and ultimately sealing the win.

LABAN PILIPINAS! pic.twitter.com/88TRxSpurG

— Philippine Men’s National Football Team (@pmnft_official) June 9, 2025

The result pushed Syria to second place in Group K with three points and a +1 goal difference. The Philippines, meanwhile, sits in third with zero points and a -1 GD, ahead of Nepal, which suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to host nation Tajikistan. 

Tajikistan leads the group with three points and a superior +4 goal difference.

Both teams will return to the Central Stadium this weekend. Syria will look to solidify its standing against Nepal in the early kickoff at 9 p.m. (Manila time), while the Philippines faces host nation Tajikistan at 12:00 a.m. Monday.

A win for the Young Azkals will be crucial to keeping their qualification hopes alive. 

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

Follow our Facebook page today and join the community of passionate basketball fans.