The Indian U-16 football team got off to a winning start beating Vietnam 1-0 in their opening Group stage match of the AFC U-16 Championship at the UM Arena in Kuala Lumpur, on Friday.
Skipper Vikram Singh scored a late winner from the penalty spot in the 86th minute to bring up the victory.
India started well and were dominating in possession over their opponents even creating as many as four clear-cut goal scoring chances. But lack of form in the final third meant none were socred and it was eventually a penalty that led to a deserved win.
Vikram came the closest in the early exchanges and should have scored in the 8th minute when Gurkirat Singh found him with a long ball inside the Vietnamese penalty box. But the latter’s shot was inches wide. Minutes later Ricky Shabong came close with a similar shot after Vikram had played a lovely back ball for him.
Similar chances came for India as the match progressed with Vikram once again guilty of squandering an opportunity from with an overhead kick, while Gurkirat shot straight into the goalkeeper’s hands from a distance.
Vietnam, on the other, played on the counter but found chances hard to come by with the tight Indian defence led by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar kept them at bay.
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India’s best chance of the half, however, came in the 40th minute when an attempted slack back pass from a Vietnam defender was quickly intercepted by Ravi. But he failed to make a shot with the custodian timing his tackle to perfection. The scoreline suggested 0-0, but India had clearly been the dominating side.
Resuming from the break, India started from where they had left and should have gone ahead but for the upright, which came to Vietnam’s rescue after Ravi’s header from a corner nearly found the net. India upped their ante in search of the goal and soon after Bekey Oram had shot over the bar, coach Bibiano Fernandes made his first substitution, bringing on Lalchhanmia Sailo for Shabong.
The substitute had an immediate impact and having shot just inches wide a minute after coming on, he broke free in the 66th minute only to see his shot from close range being wonderfully saved by the rival goalkeeper. It was till then the closest India had come to scoring.
But they were awarded another opportunity in the 83rd minute when Vikram was brought down inside the Vietnam penalty box and the referee signalled towards the spot. Skipper Vikram stood up and scored to record India’s first win in the group stage.
India faces Iran on Monday.
Image Source: Goal.com