World Cup qualifying: Japan beat war-hit Syria (JMD quoted on CNN)
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World Cup qualifying: Japan beat war-hit Syria
By Amit Nathwani
Updated 1855 GMT (0155 HKT) October 8, 2015
![Syria, who are ranked 123rd in the world by FIFA, is forced to play in Oman due to the ongoing crisis in its homeland. Fighting has killed more than 250,000 people since 2011 and displaced 10.6 million people from their homes -- about half of Syria's pre-war population.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/151008164301-syria-japan-russia-world-cup-qualifier-1-exlarge-169.jpg)
5 photos: Japan sink high-flying Syria in World Cup qualifying game
Syria, who are ranked 123rd in the world by FIFA, is forced to play in Oman due to the ongoing crisis in its homeland. Fighting has killed more than 250,000 people since 2011 and displaced 10.6 million people from their homes -- about half of Syria's pre-war population.
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![The return fixture in Japan takes place in March next year. This is the second of three stages in Asia's World Cup qualification process.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/151008164524-syria-japan-russia-world-cup-qualifier-2-exlarge-169.jpg)
5 photos: Japan sink high-flying Syria in World Cup qualifying game
The return fixture in Japan takes place in March next year. This is the second of three stages in Asia's World Cup qualification process.
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![When footage emerged online of Syrian Osama Abdul Mohsen being tripped by a Hungarian camerawoman, whilst carrying his son, it shocked people all over the world. The Spanish footballing school CENAFE offered the Syrian a coaching role and a home for his family. His son walked onto the pitch hand-in-hand with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo prior to a recent match.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150917172214-syrian-refugee-gets-football-role-in-spain-1-exlarge-169.jpg)
5 photos: Japan sink high-flying Syria in World Cup qualifying game
When footage emerged online of Syrian Osama Abdul Mohsen being tripped by a Hungarian camerawoman, whilst carrying his son, it shocked people all over the world. The Spanish footballing school CENAFE offered the Syrian a coaching role and a home for his family. His son walked onto the pitch hand-in-hand with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo prior to a recent match.
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![Syria's unbeaten run in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup was ended by Japan in Seeb, Oman. After, failing to break the deadlock in the first-half, Japan scored three times in 15 second-hlaf minutes to move above Syria and to the top of Group E.<br />](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/151008165055-syria-japan-russia-world-cup-qualifier-4-exlarge-169.jpg)
Japan sink high-flying Syria in World Cup qualifying game
Syria's unbeaten run in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup was ended by Japan in Seeb, Oman. After, failing to break the deadlock in the first-half, Japan scored three times in 15 second-hlaf minutes to move above Syria and to the top of Group E.
A brutal civil war, bombed-out towns and hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing in terror.
It's against that backdrop that Syria has been bidding to reach the World Cup for the first time in its history.
After three consecutive wins over Afghanistan, Singapore and Cambodia, the war-torn nation was beaten 3-0 by Asian powerhouse Japan Thursday.
Normally Syria would play its matches in Aleppo, a city which has had "the life bombed out of it." Instead, this game was staged 3,000 kilometers away in the Omani city of Seeb.
The defeat meant Syria lost top spot in Group E of the Asian qualifying section.
There are eight five-team groups in the section, with each team playing home and away fixtures against the other teams in its group.
The eight group winners and four runners-up advance to a final stage, contested by two six-team groups.
Playing in temperatures of over 91 degrees Fahrenheit, four-time Asian champions Japan -- ranked 55 in the world by FIFA -- struggled to break down Syria in the first half.
After the restart, A.C. Milan star Keisuke Honda and Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki scored in a 15-minute period before Takashi Usami 's late goal wrapped up a 3-0 win for Japan.
The result means Japan leapfrog Syria at the top of Group E.
Despite this defeat, Syria is well placed to advance to the next stage of qualifying -- it has nine points from four matches and is two points ahead of third-place Singapore.
Ranked 123rd in the world, Syria has thrashed both Afghanistan, ranked 27 places higher, and Cambodia 6-0 on the road. It also beat Singapore 1-0 in front of 100 fans at the Sultan Quaboos Stadium in the Omani city of Muscat in September.
![AS Roma launches 'Football Cares' initiative to aid refugee charities](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150913144159-dzeko-football-cares-full-169.jpg)
14 photos:
![So too have Bayern Munich which stated it would provide $1.1 million to refugee charities last month.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903140013-germany-football-refugees-bayern-large-169.jpg)
![The Bundesliga club has also said it plans to set up a training camp for some of the thousands that have crossed into Germany via Hungary and Austria.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903135118-germany-football-refugees-boy-large-169.jpg)
![On top of this, Bayern will offer refugees meals and German language classes in conjunction with the city of Munich.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903135350-germany-football-refugees-boys-large-169.jpg)
![Bayern isn't the only German club helping migrants. Here refugees, invited by Mainz 05, attend a Bundesliga match against Hannover 96 at Coface Arena in August.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903135000-germany-football-refugees-mainz-2-large-169.jpg)
![Banners with "Refugees welcome" or "Welcome to Germany" were visible in many recent Bundesliga matches.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903134824-germany-football-refugees-mainz-large-169.jpg)
![Germany expects to receive 800,000 asylum seekers in 2015, four times more than in 2014.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903135548-germany-football-refugees-dresden-large-169.jpg)
![Portugal players observe a minute of silence in honor of refugees and migrants coming to Europe prior to their training session at Coimbra da Mota stadium in Estoril on September 3, 2015.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903140313-germany-football-refugees-portugal-large-169.jpg)
![Osamsa Abdul Mohsen addresses the media at Atocha train station, Madrid. The Spanish footballing school CENAFE offered the Syrian a coaching role and a home for his family.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150917172214-syrian-refugee-gets-football-role-in-spain-1-large-169.jpg)
![Footage emerged online of Mohsen being tripped by a Hungarian camerawoman, whilst carrying his son, which shocked people all over the world. Other clubs across Europe have been helping Syrians during this crisis.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150917172531-syrian-refugee-gets-football-role-in-spain-2-large-169.jpg)
![Roma players pose for a team picture before a Serie A match against Frosinone with "Football Cares" emblazoned across their jerseys.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150913144312-roma-football-cares-large-169.jpg)
!["Football Cares" is an initiative founded by the Italian club that aims to raise money for refugee charities.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150913144159-dzeko-football-cares-large-169.jpg)
![Roma chairman and president, James Pallotta, hopes many clubs and fans will engage with "Football Cares" to help the hundreds of thousands of refugees that have poured into Europe fleeing conflict in the likes of Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/141014175018-james-pallotta-story-top.jpg)
![Former U.S. soccer star Mia Hamm is a board member at Roma and says she would be willing to donate some of her old jerseys for auction to help raise money for "Football Cares."](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150205084437-mia-hamm-football-tease-large-169.jpg)
![Other major European clubs like Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain and Borrusia Dortmund have already donated considerable amounts to refugee charities.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150513202652-ronaldo-ramos-celebrate-goal-large-169.jpg)
![So too have Bayern Munich which stated it would provide $1.1 million to refugee charities last month.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903140013-germany-football-refugees-bayern-large-169.jpg)
![The Bundesliga club has also said it plans to set up a training camp for some of the thousands that have crossed into Germany via Hungary and Austria.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903135118-germany-football-refugees-boy-large-169.jpg)
![On top of this, Bayern will offer refugees meals and German language classes in conjunction with the city of Munich.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903135350-germany-football-refugees-boys-large-169.jpg)
![Bayern isn't the only German club helping migrants. Here refugees, invited by Mainz 05, attend a Bundesliga match against Hannover 96 at Coface Arena in August.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903135000-germany-football-refugees-mainz-2-large-169.jpg)
![Banners with "Refugees welcome" or "Welcome to Germany" were visible in many recent Bundesliga matches.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903134824-germany-football-refugees-mainz-large-169.jpg)
![Germany expects to receive 800,000 asylum seekers in 2015, four times more than in 2014.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903135548-germany-football-refugees-dresden-large-169.jpg)
![Portugal players observe a minute of silence in honor of refugees and migrants coming to Europe prior to their training session at Coimbra da Mota stadium in Estoril on September 3, 2015.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903140313-germany-football-refugees-portugal-large-169.jpg)
![Osamsa Abdul Mohsen addresses the media at Atocha train station, Madrid. The Spanish footballing school CENAFE offered the Syrian a coaching role and a home for his family.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150917172214-syrian-refugee-gets-football-role-in-spain-1-large-169.jpg)
![Footage emerged online of Mohsen being tripped by a Hungarian camerawoman, whilst carrying his son, which shocked people all over the world. Other clubs across Europe have been helping Syrians during this crisis.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150917172531-syrian-refugee-gets-football-role-in-spain-2-large-169.jpg)
![Roma players pose for a team picture before a Serie A match against Frosinone with "Football Cares" emblazoned across their jerseys.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150913144312-roma-football-cares-large-169.jpg)
!["Football Cares" is an initiative founded by the Italian club that aims to raise money for refugee charities.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150913144159-dzeko-football-cares-large-169.jpg)
![Roma chairman and president, James Pallotta, hopes many clubs and fans will engage with "Football Cares" to help the hundreds of thousands of refugees that have poured into Europe fleeing conflict in the likes of Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/141014175018-james-pallotta-story-top.jpg)
![Former U.S. soccer star Mia Hamm is a board member at Roma and says she would be willing to donate some of her old jerseys for auction to help raise money for "Football Cares."](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150205084437-mia-hamm-football-tease-large-169.jpg)
![Other major European clubs like Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain and Borrusia Dortmund have already donated considerable amounts to refugee charities.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150513202652-ronaldo-ramos-celebrate-goal-large-169.jpg)
![Syrian Refugee gets football role in Spain 1](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150917172214-syrian-refugee-gets-football-role-in-spain-1-small-11.jpg)
![Syrian Refugee gets football role in Spain 2](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150917172531-syrian-refugee-gets-football-role-in-spain-2-small-11.jpg)
![roma football cares](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150913144312-roma-football-cares-small-11.jpg)
![dzeko football cares](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150913144159-dzeko-football-cares-small-11.jpg)
![James Pallotta](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/141014175018-james-pallotta-topics.jpg)
![mia hamm football tease](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150205084437-mia-hamm-football-tease-small-11.jpg)
![ronaldo ramos celebrate goal](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150513202652-ronaldo-ramos-celebrate-goal-small-11.jpg)
![germany football refugees bayern](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903140013-germany-football-refugees-bayern-small-11.jpg)
![germany football refugees boy](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903135118-germany-football-refugees-boy-small-11.jpg)
![germany football refugees boys](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903135350-germany-football-refugees-boys-small-11.jpg)
![germany football refugees mainz 2](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903135000-germany-football-refugees-mainz-2-small-11.jpg)
![germany football refugees mainz](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903134824-germany-football-refugees-mainz-small-11.jpg)
![germany football refugees dresden](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903135548-germany-football-refugees-dresden-small-11.jpg)
![germany football refugees portugal](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150903140313-germany-football-refugees-portugal-small-11.jpg)
Protests against the government and President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 plunged Syria into a chaotic war which is still raging today.
Fighter jets announced Russia's arrival on the ever-growing list of nations who have bombed Syria when it launched airstrikes on Wednesday.
A coalition of countries led by the U.S. have been bombing ISIS targets on a near-daily basis since last September, in the hopes of rooting out the terror group from its strongholds in the country.
But Russia's involvement marks a new and uncertain chapter in a war that has now killed more than 250,000 people since 2011 and displaced 10.6 million people from home -- about half of Syria's pre-war population.
According to James Dorsey, the author of the "Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer", Assad uses the soccer team to give the regime "a degree of prestige."
He told The Guardian it shows "a sense of normality amid the mayhem."
FT Syria 0-3 Japan Honda, Okazaki & Usami earn the Samurai Blue a deserved away win #WCQhttp://t.co/7ipu8XSBah pic.twitter.com/EkpHUFn9uN— FIFAWorldCup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 8, 2015
Syria's next fixture see it welcome Afghanistan to its temporary home. A fixture would put its qualification campaign back on track.
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