Despite strong offense and fighting spirit, Taiwan encountered its second setback in an Asia Cup Group B qualifier, getting shut out by Syria 4-0 in Taipei yesterday.
Syria's Zyad Chaabo scored the first goal after only 29 minutes of play, and the first half ended 2-0.
Taiwan tried to score in the second half by speeding up its offense.
Liang Chien-wei (
Syrian continued its strong offense in the second half, scoring two more goals -- one by Chaabo again and the other by Firas Alkhatib.
Syrian coach Nizar Mahrous said that his team is young in terms of its average age and has traveled 40 hours to get here.
"We scored without any accident," he said.
Mahrous also spoke highly of Taiwan's performance, saying that they played at a fast pace. Compared with games in the past, the team definitely played better this time, he said.
Taiwan coach Toshiaki Imai said that the second goal scored by Syria determined the outcome of the game, adding that it occurred because of a fault in the backside defense.
"If we did not lose that consequential goal, we would have had a chance to win," Imai said.
The Taiwan side had only trained for one month before the game and still has time to lift its performance, Imai said.
Taiwan will next face South Korea on Aug. 6.
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