Japan's Keisuke Honda celebrates with teammate Shinji Okazaki. (Photo : Reuters)
Group E's top squad Syria (3-0-0, 9 points) and FIFA world no. 39 Japan (2-0-1, 7 points) will clash at the Al-Seeb Stadium in Seeb, Oman on Thursday, October 8 for an AFC 2018 World Cup qualifying encounter.
The Eagles, coached by Damascus native Fajr Ibrahim, routed Cambodia, 6-0, during their September 8 match at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, as reported by USA Today.
Striker Omar Khribin fired two of four Syrian goals in the first half to lead the team's relentless attack. Fellow striker Sanharib Malki, winger Mahmoud Maowas, center back Omar Midani, and midfielder Osama Omari contributed one apiece at the 31st, 44th, 50th, and 81st-minute marks respectively en route to the blowout win.
Meanwhile, powerhouse Japan was forced to a goalless draw by Singapore in their opening game of the tournament to so far settle for the second spot in Group E. Winning this game against Syria would put them on top of their bracket.
Samurai Blue is coming off their own 6-0 tear of Afghanistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran also on September 8, via Goal.
Winger Shinji Kagawa and striker Shinji Okazaki each scored a double for Vahid Halilhodžić's side while mainstays Masato Morishige and Keisuke Honda added one each at the 35th and 74th minutes respectively for the final count.
The prediction is a close Japan victory, 3-2.
Syria starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Balhous; Al Salih, Kallasi, Midani, Sabagh; Al-Jafal, Al Mawas, Al Hussain, Omari; Khribin, Malki
Japan starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Nishikawa; Nagatomo, Morishige, Sakai, Yoshida; Kagawa, Yamaguchi, Hasebe; Honda, Haraguchi, Okazaki
