India humble Maldives in AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers

Al Khobar (Saudi Arabia), Oct 4 (UNI) India kicked off their AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers in model, defeating Maldives 5-0 on the Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Stadium in Al Khobar on Tuesday.

Captain Vanlalpeka Guite, Lalhmingchhuanga Fanai, Aman, Boby Singh, Phoenix Oinam scored a purpose every to make it a five-star efficiency for India.

India received off on the entrance foot, with Huzafah and Boby orchestrating assaults down the left flank. The Blue Colts got here near opening the scoring within the ninth minute when a Vanlalpeka Guite nook from the left was virtually turned in by Faizan. Nevertheless, the ball went agonisingly near the purpose, travelling parallelly to the purpose line, earlier than going out of play.

It didn’t take them too lengthy to attain the primary although, as captain Guite ran on to a low cross from the suitable and slotted it dwelling.

Fanai doubled the lead within the twenty fourth minute, when he tried his luck from lengthy vary, because the ball took a deflection and sailed previous the Maldives keeper.

The 2 objectives put India firmly within the driver’s seat of the sport, as a assured Guite orchestrated the assaults for the Blue Colts, usually dropping right down to the midfield to hyperlink up with the midfielders and wingers.

The India captain got here shut to creating it 3-0 when he took cost of a free-kick near the Maldives penalty field. From round 20 yards out, Guite had the keeper fully crushed, however the ball thudded off the woodwork.

India went into the breather with a two purpose lead, however got here out with extra impetus after the break.

Head coach Bibiano Fernandes made three adjustments after the interval, bringing on Gurnaj Singh, Phoenix Oinam, and Chandan Yadav, rather than Guite, Malemngamba Thokchom, and Manjit Singh Dhami, respectively.

India have been fully dominant within the second half, having fun with lengthy bouts of possession, and it took them about quarter-hour to attain once more.

Ahead Aman received himself to the top of an elaborate group transfer and completed it off to make it 3-0 in India’s favour only one minute

forward of the hour mark.

Eight minutes later, Huzafah Ahmad Dar was fouled contained in the field, and the referee subsequently pointed to the spot. Boby Singh stepped as much as the spot and slotted it dwelling to make it 4-0.

Minutes later, Phoenix Oinam put the ending touches on the victory, as he fired dwelling from round 25 yards, sending the ball into the underside nook of the purpose.

Because the clock wore on, Aman got here near rising the margin for India, as his shot from outdoors the field ricocheted off the cross-bar and went out of play.

India U-17 XI: Julfikar Gazi (GK), Manjot Singh Dhami (Chandan Yadav 46’), Vanlalpeka Guite (c) (Gurnaj Singh), Boby Singh, Malemngamba Singh (Phoenix Oinam), Huzafah Ahmad Dar, Surajkumar Singh, Ngarin Shaiza, Lalhmingchhuanga Fanai, Faizan Waheed, Aman (Korou Singh 85’). UNI PC SSP