Syria advance with 2-1 win over Afghanistan

Afghanistan were down three goals coming into the match. Still, a goal early on gave the Afghans hope to come back. Unfotunately for them, the Syrians netted a goal a mere one minute later and then went on to win the contest outright in the second half with a second goal. The final aggregate score was 5-1. Syria need only one of the top eleven seeds to lose in order to gain a bye to the third round.

Their best chances of gaining a bye rest with the fates of Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Jordan are down 2-0 to Kyrgyzstan with the home leg still to come. UAE are up 1-0 with the home leg still to come, but they are playing a dangerous opponent in Vietnam.

Goal scorers:
Syria: Jenyat 17; Esmaeel 64

Afghanistan: O. Karimi 16