LONDON: The tears that rolled down the cheeks of Al-Hilal’s Syrian striker Omar Khribin at full time on Saturday night should be replaced by smiles of joy this week when he, in all likelihood, is named the Asian Footballer of the Year at the AFC Annual Awards in Bangkok tomorrow.
Khribin was inconsolable as the seconds ticked down at Saitama Stadium, having been substituted early after picking up a knock, unable to help the Riyadh giants win their first continental crown since 2000.
It’s been a tough few months for the Syrian superstar: His national team were knocked out of World Cup qualifying in heartbreaking circumstances, losing to Australia in extra-time last month.
But when the dust settles on the year, and as Asia’s elite gathers in Thailand to honor the continent’s finest, Khribin and the rest of his Syrian team-mates can look back at 2017 as a remarkable one — one in which they soared to heights previously unthinkable for a country decimated by a long-running war.
Little was expected of Syria when they entered World Cup qualifying back in 2015. Finishing second in Group E behind Japan in the second round was an achievement in itself.
Very few could have expected what was to come next for the Qasioun Eagles. After starting slowly, with only one win in their first five matches, a place in the playoffs, let alone the World Cup itself, looked a million miles away.
But as the calendar ticked over into 2017, something changed. A 1-0 win at “home” — home being Melaka in Mayalsia — against Uzbekistan got the year off on the right foot. That win came courtesy of a 91st-minute goal from Khribin.
Late goals became a hallmark of their success, with a 93rd-minute goal from Ahmad Al-Salih earning a valuable 2-2 draw with China in June, while Mahmoud Al-Mawas’ 95th-minute goal sealed all three points against Qatar.
But it was Omar Al-Somah’s late, late goal in Tehran, where Iran had won their previous nine matches in qualifying dating back to 2013, in the final match that will live long in the memory.
Needing at least a draw to advance to the playoff against Australia, Syria took an early lead through Tamer Hajj Mohamad before two goals from Sardar Azmoun either side of half time looked to have killed off their chances. But Al-Somah’s strike catapulted Syrian football to international stardom, with fans across the world buying into the “miracle” of the Syrian story.
While it wasn’t to be, they can now look ahead to the Asian Cup in the UAE in just over a year with improved confidence and should fancy their chances of getting out of the group stage for the first time in their history.
If Khribin and Al-Somah can continue their rich vein of form Syria will head into the tournament as a genuine contender.
At club level, it was also a case of so close, yet so far for Syrian teams as in the AFC Cup Al-Wahda were 10 seconds away from a place in the final before a late goal from Iraqi side Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya cruelly ended their dream.
As it was for the national team, and for Khribin’s Al-Hilal, it was a heartbreaking end to a campaign that had showed so much promise.
But despite that it’s been a year where we have seen the resurgence of Syrian football. Khribin, the AFC Champions League Golden Boot winner with 10 goals, should at least cap his year with the highest individual accolade in Asia this week.
Nothing will replace the tears and hurt of this year’s near-misses but being named as Asia’s best footballer is at least personal recognition for what has been a remarkable year for himself and his country.