By Abhishek Roy, IANS
New Delhi : After registering a narrow 3-2 win over hosts India, Syrian coach Fajer Ibrahim gave the credit to his ‘terrible triangle’ who have helped the team reach the final in the Nehru Cup international football tournament here.
“I think the trio of Mohammed Alzeno, Zyad Chaabo and Maher Al Sayad are the key to our success. Alzeno and Chaabo play upfront and Al Sayad who played behind them form a triangle. I call them the ‘terrible triangle’ and they have done really well in this tournament,” Ibrahim told IANS Friday.
Al Sayad, who is the captain of the Syrian team, is the playmaker and has kept the two forwards Alzeno and Chaabo busy with some pin-point passes, helping them to score regularly in this tournament.
“Al Sayad is a very clever player and I make him play as a withdrawn forward and he has kept both Chaabo and Alzeno busy with some good passes,” said Ibrahim.
It was no different Thursday, as Chaabo scored a brace against India and sealed the fate of the match in Syria’s favour. But it was a lucky win for Syria as they scraped past 3-2.
The Syrians couldn’t match India’s short clinical passes and to counteract started playing long balls in the air.
“We have different plans for different teams and playing the long balls was part of our strategy. Though the Indian midfielders played really well, we always had the edge,” said Ibrahim.
The Syrian coach had high praise for Indian midfielders N.P. Pradeep, Steven Dias and Clifford Miranda.
“I think these three players were really good and if India play like this they can beat Lebanon in the first round of the World Cup qualifiers,” he said.
Ibrahim also said that the second goal scored by Ajayan Nair in the 81st minute Thursday was the best goal of the tournament so far.
“It was a scintillating effort from Ajayan, who came on as a replacement. He had really good control over the ball and his shot was powerful,” he said.
India trailing 1-3 came back into match after a dazzling goal by Ajayan with only nine minutes left in regulation time. The midfielder playing his first match of the tournament dribbled past three Syrian defenders and unleashed his powerful left-footer from 30 yards to give a glimmer of hope to the hosts.