Playing on their home turf and with the fans behind them, Vietnam attacked from the opening whistle.
After a slow start, Syria started to get back into the game but it still remained goalless at halftime.
After the break, both sides went on looking for the full three points.
The match was determined in injury time when Syria striker Rafe buried a free header in the 94 minute to score the only goal of the game.
Syria currently tops their group with nine points while Henrique Calisto’s team has only three points.
“Having lost to Syria, Vietnam’s chances of qualifying for the final round of the Asian Cup are very slim,” said coach Calisto.
Vietnam will play their last games in the Asian Cup qualifiers, away to Lebanon on January 6th and at home to China on March 3rd.