The 23-year-old midfielder finished a counterattack early in the second half to give the world’s 114th-ranked side all three points and lift the side into fourth spot in Group A of the Asian section.
China, which is ranked 78th and boast one of the most lucrative domestic leagues in the world, has just one point from its opening three matches and are in real danger of missing out on a place in the 2018 finals in Russia.
The visiting side - which has an estimated population of 17 million, a full 76 times smaller than that of China - should have made the win more comfortable in the 73rd minute, but Omar Kharbin missed an open goal following Al-Mawas’ cut back.
Syria, which has to play its home matches in Oman due to the war in its homeland that has displaced millions of people, is now just three points adrift of group leader Iran.
