Syria Score Comedic Own Goal as Goalkeeper Punches Ball into Defender's Face

Japan hosted Syria in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, and they took the lead in rather amusing fashion.

The game was 17 minutes old when Japan whipped a cross into the box from the left-hand side.

What initially appeared to be a straightforward catch for the goalkeeper proved anything but, as Ibrahim Alma's awkward punch hit team-mate Hamdi Al Masri in the face and ricocheted back past him and into the net.

Shinji Kagawa scored twice for Japan, as the 2002 joint-hosts kept their qualifying campaign on track with a 5-0 win in Saitama.

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