Manama, Aug. 10 (SANA) Syria’s U-20 football team lost 1-0 to hosts Bahrain on Sunday in their second friendly match as both teams prepare for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
Dutch coach Arno Buitenweg made several changes to the Syrian lineup to assess players’ readiness and team cohesion, particularly with several squad members playing for European clubs.
Bahrain also won the first friendly between the two teams last Wednesday by the same scoreline.
Syria’s youth team is preparing for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, where it will face Uzbekistan, India and Bangladesh.
The team will play two more friendly matches against Oman on Aug. 13 and 16 in Oman before concluding its preparation program with a training camp in Qatar, which will include a friendly match against Saudi Arabia.
N.J/ABD
