New Delhi, Aug 20 - Syria beat Kyrgyzstan 2-0 without breaking a sweat in their opening match of the Nehru Cup football tournament here at the Ambedkar Stadium Thursday.

Syria, ranked 96th on the FIFA charts, were clinical in their play and there was little that the 160th ranked Kyrgyzstan could do except keep the tally down to a goal in each half.

Strikes from Mohammad Al Zeno (9th) and Abdul Fatah Alaga (77th) were enough to prove that it would not be easy to send last edition's runners-up home without the cup.

This Syrian side is a much younger compared to the one that lost to India in the 2007 final with Al Zeno, Ali Dyab and Wael Ayan being their most experienced players who figured in the last edition. The three stalwarts are the players to watch out.

Star striker Alzeno caught the Kyrgyzstan defence by surprise with his raw pace and power and gave Syria the lead with a diving header off midfielder Ayan's cross from the right.

Though they had to wait for quiet some time to double their lead, Syria's creativity in the mid-field showed why they are at the top of their group in the Asian Cup qualifiers, where they have been clubbed with China, Lebanon, and Vietnam.