A Syrian commentator broke down in tears in an incredible reaction to a late equaliser against Iran which kept the war-torn country’s World Cup dream alive.
With Syria facing elimination from Asian qualifying, Omar al-Soma marked his return to the team after a five-year absence to clinch a 2-2 draw and a place in the playoffs.
Players and coaches emotionally embraced as the ball hit the back of the net in time added on at the end of the game, but the man behind the microphone could be heard bursting with pride as he attempted to describe the action.
Syria’s national football team celebrate at the end of their match with Iran which ended in a 2-2 draw at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday
The Syrians, with their country’s name on their backs as opposed to their surnames, erupt in Tehran having equalised against Iran
Syrian players and coaching staff Syria celebrate after the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying match between Iran and Syria at the Azadi stadium
The commentator, whose name is not known, can be heard screaming ‘kora’, which means ‘ball’, and ‘alla’, which roughly translates to ‘come on’ or ‘get in’ during an incredible couple of minutes of sports broadcasting.
As the striker finds the target, the Syrian goes berserk with: ‘Kora. Come on, boys. Come on, boys. The second goal. The second. Pass. The second,’ according to Mohamed Osama.
Having shouted ‘alla’ and ‘goal’ a handful of times, he then says: ‘Minute 93! What’s happening? Cry. Be happy. Alla. No, no, no. Alla, alla, alla,’ before bursting into tears.
He manages to compose himself to say: ‘The second goal for our national team. The second goal for our national team! Who scored? Soma. It had to be Soma. It had to be Soma.
‘The equalizing goal. The equalizing goal. Pardon me. I’ve lost it. No one can stop them.’
Syrian football fans chant, whistle and clap in the stands having travelled to Iran to watch the game
Syria’s Omar Al-Soma, left, who scored the vital equaliser, vies for the ball with Iran’s Morteza Pouraliganji
Players, with ‘Syria’ rather than names emblazoned across the back of their red jerseys, sank to their knees on the turf in Tehran.
From the bench, members of the team’s staff with flags streamed onto the field.
Back home, the pursuit of a place at the World Cup in Russia has provided a flicker of joy in parts of a country divided by six years of war.
Big screens were erected in public squares the Syrian capital Damascus for public screenings and fans also packed into coffee shops and sports halls to watch the broadcast from Iran.
Thousands of dancing fans filtered onto the streets of Damascus chanting ‘Syria’ and waving the country’s flags, bringing traffic to a complete halt in the city center.
‘This is the happiest day of my life,’ said Bashir Rahal, a 26-year old, who was watching the game in a Damascus hotel, with the country’s flag on a table in front of him.
Outside, the skies lit up with pyrotechnics, some launching red tracers above the thousands of revelers who filled the streets, leaning out of their car windows or marching in the city center.
The upbeat news from the country’s soccer team came on the same day troops reached Deir el-Zour, in eastern Syria, breaching a months-old siege on government troops by Islamic State militants.
‘There are two victories today: the army entered Deir el-Zour and we equalized with Iran, which I consider a victory,’ said Fayeq Shmais, a 46-year-old government employee.
‘Syria is witnessing a revival as large rallies roam the streets of Damascus. This is something we have not seen since the start of the crisis.’
But soccer is not completely unifying the country, with even a sporting success politicised.
Some fans also chanted the name of the Syrian President Bashar Al-assad on the streets of Damascus.
Syrians cheer as they watch the home leg of the Syria-Iran tie at Faihaa hall in Damascus last month
Syrian fans hold a Syrian flag while cheering for their national team ahead of a crucial match
A Syrian fan paints the flag of Syria on another fan’s face ahead of the Tehran tie on Tuesday
A Syrian soccer fan holds a Syrian flag ahead of a crucial match which ended in a 2-2 draw
Online opponents of Assad were also vocal.
Some called it a team that represents the government, while others shared pictures of athletes and soccer players who were killed during the war.
Syria’s opponent on the field Tuesday – Iran – is a regional political ally that has provided crucial political and military support to shore up Assad’s forces in the war.
Qualification could have been automatically clinched with a victory in Iran, who had nothing to play having already secured its place in Russia.
Now Syria will have to qualify the hard way for its first trip to the FIFA showpiece.
Syria will play Australia in a two-match Asian series next month.
To make the World Cup, the winner will then have to beat a team from the CONCACAF confederation covering North and Central America, and the Caribbean.
Syria will likely play its home match against Australia in Malaysia, as it has during Asian qualifying, due to the ongoing war.