The home team conceded a goal very early in the first half and during the later stage of the second half.[break]
Ashqar Ahmad and substitute Abdul Razar Al Hammoud netted one each for the visitors in the second and 83rd minute, respectively.
Taking advantage of a poor clearance by defender Aditya Chaudhary of a corner taken by Jniat Abdullah of Syria, Ahmad sent the ball past net to stun the home team two minutes into the game.
Similarly, Hammoud, the 56th minute replacement for Hndawi Tarek Al Mohammad, doubled the tally through a low-ball shot from the box in a pass set by Srour Mohamad Rabee.
"The early goal we conceded was unfortunate," said Nepal´s coach Sunil Shrestha during the post-match conference, adding, "We came under pressure after conceding the early goal."
Nepal will now take on Oman on Wednesday in the second match.
The match was fairly competitive in the first half with the home team making more attempts on goal. But in the later stage of the second half Syria created about half a dozen attractive moves.
"We did not know about the Nepali team and we were afraid of them before the kick-off," Syria coach Muhammad Al Fakeer said, adding, "But after reading their performance in the first half, we came up with a changed strategy and created more chances in the second half." Fakeer said the Nepali team was ´fast´.
In the 29th minute, Nepal skipper Heman Gurung´s quick strike from the edge of the box sailed inches wide off the post. Similarly, Gurung´s powerful free-kick from near the center line during the stoppage time of first half was punched by goalie Alomar Alaa from below the bar.
Rishi Pithakoti Thapa Magar hit wide in the 66th minute from a tight angle and Rungri Hang Rai´s header in Gurung´s corner was denied by the goalie.
Hammoud´s quick strike from the box sailed above the bar in the 78th minute and Rabee also missed a scoring chance when he hit above the bar in the 81st minute. During the stoppage time Hammoud´s brilliant attempt after beating three defenders inside the box was denied by Nepali goalie Birendra Bahadur Chand.
"The first match was important, but we lost it despite our best efforts and now we must win both the remaining matches to keep alive hopes of making it through to the next stage," Nepal´s coach Shrestha said.
SAUDI ARABIA OFF TO A FLYER
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia eased past Oman 3-0 in a match played at the Halchowk ground. Saudi Arabia, rated as the strongest team in the group, opened the scoring before the interval and scored twice during the second half.
Sumayhan Bhaidan opened the scoring in the 34th minute. The other two goals came within a span of three minutes during the second half. Abdul Karim Ali doubled the tally in the 60th minute and Hasan Sarif sealed the victory three minutes later.
The group winner and runner-up will qualify for the final stage in the four-team contest. Saudi Arabia will meet Syria in its next match on Wednesday.
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