Uzbekistan, runners-up to DPR Korea at the last AFC U-16 Championship, were facing elimination from the competition, after Subie Al Husni's strike 33 minutes into Thursday's match at the PAS Stadium consigned them to a 1-0 defeat, with China leading India 2-1 over at the Rah Ahan Stadium and destined to join the Syrians in the last eight.

But as the Syrians celebrated their victory and the young Uzbeks slumped to the PAS Stadium turf in despair, news came through that Myron Mendes had scored a stoppage-time penalty that saw India and China draw 2-2 to deny the Chinese a second-place finish.

"I wasn't aware of what was happening at the other stadium and I only knew after the final whistle. I can't describe the feeling," Nuraliyev said.

"We had many chances to score and we didn't take them so I have to say a big 'thank you India' for the goal that helped us qualify."

In a match dominated by Uzbekistan, the Central Asians did indeed have their chances with Mukhiddin Odilov, who wore the captain's armband in place of Shokhrukhjon Eshbutaev with Uzbekistan coach Dilshod Nuraliyev opting for Sarvar Karimov in goal, having three clear cut opportunities early in the second-half, hitting the bar, drawing a save and firing wide in all in the space of three minutes.

"Syria had only one real chance and they took it while we had many but couldn't convert them. We will work on this for the quarter-finals," continued the Uzbek coach.

Victorious Syria coach Muhannad Al Fakeer was delighted that his side was able to give some cheer to the people back in their stricken homeland with progression to the quarter-finals but admitted that a combination of nerves and fatigue got to his young charges in what he saw as something of a below-par performance.

"This was our worst performance in all the group stage matches. We played much better against China and against India but in this match there was also a lot of pressure on the players.

"Our players don't have the experience yet to deal with these kinds of matches and after playing so hard against China and India they were also very tired during this game.

"But the most important thing is that we qualified."