AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: India U-16 National Team started the Four-nation International Tournament with a resounding 2-1 victory over Jordan in Serbia tonight (May 9, 2018). After conceding in the second minute of the match, India made a strong comeback in the 17th minute, thanks to the terrific finish by Ridge. Rohit Danu scored India's second goal nine minutes later which eventually, proved to be the difference between the two teams until the final whistle.

Jordan started off in a great fashion having scored the opener within two minutes of the kick-off before India slowly clawed back into the game. Givson tried his luck from outside the box in the fourth minute but it sailed over the crossbar. Rohit Danu found himself in a comfortable position three minutes later but the Jordanian goalie jumped on his feet to put the danger away.

Finally, Ridge came into his team's rescue in the 17th minute to draw parity in the scoreline. Vikram unleashed a square pass from the edge of the box and the midfielder netted his first goal of the match.

Seven minutes later, the Jordanian goalkeeper made a mistake and Rohit Danu made it count for them having scored the second goal for India. Ridge blasted a right-footed shot from the top of the box and the goalie fumbled grabbing it and on rebound, Rohit Danu slotted it past the goalie to send the Indian dugout into a delirium.

After the changeover, Jordan rung in a couple of changes in their quest to find the equaliser. Givson came very close to score India's third goal in the 53rd minute but the goalie tipped it out of danger giving away a corner to India.

Jordan earned back-to-back corners after the hour-mark but they couldn't score their second goal, courtesy a couple of acrobatic saves by the lanky goalie Biaka.

Having introduced Ravi and Bikas towards the end at the expense of Sailo and Vikram respectively, coach Bibiano Fernandes opted to assess his bench strength as well. Eventually, the Indian defenders held their nerves to sign off with an emphatic 2-1 victory.

India will have to negotiate with the challenges imposed by hosts Serbia in their next encounter in the Four-nation International Tournament on May 11, 2018 which is scheduled to kick-off at 10:30 PM IST.