By Nilanjan Datta,
AIFF Media Team
INDIA U-16 5 (Gaston – 15th, Aman 19th and 47th, Boris 27th, Suresh – 75th)
beat
BAHRAIN U-16 0
TABRIZ CITY: India got off to a winning start in the AFC U-16 Qualifiers when they pumped in five past Bahrain in the Group E opener at Tarbriz City, Iran on Wednesday (September 16).
On a bright and hot afternoon at the Tabriz Yadegar-E-Emam Stadium, Aman scored a brace (19th and 47th minutes respectively) while Gaston (15th minute), Boris (27th minute) and Suresh (75th minute) scored one apiece.
Against a Team ranked 112 in the FIFA ladder in comparison to India’s 155, Nicolai Adam’s boys dominated all throughout so much so, that it turned out to be a totally one-sided encounter.
Bahrain Coach Abdulsaheb Abdulnabi admitted they were “destroyed” in the 90 minutes.
“India were strong in all departments and surprised us on the field,” he commented.
The present batch who are in preparation to represent India in the FIFA 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup headed into Tabriz from a six-week exposure tour in Germany.
“I have to get my Team ready for the next game against Iran,” Nicolai Adam maintained at the Official post match Press Conference. “It will be a very tough game. At this age, it’s difficult to keep both feet on the ground but that’s my job,” he stated
“This generation is preparing for the FIFA 2017 U-17 World Cup. The match against Iran is a big test for us,” he added.
Bahrain’s Goalkeeper Bashar Abed stayed the busiest Player on the pitch with the rival defence and midfield sometimes, resorting to foul play as a last ditch attempt to thwart the nimble footed India colts.
Bahrain were even reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute when Striker Abdulla Jasim was flashed the red for a foul on Sarif.
India dominated all throughout. There was always another for support, the colts switched it from one end to the other, there were some delightful one-twos and India won almost all the second balls, frustrating Bahrain.
Add to that, five goals, two of which had sublime authority stamped over it, the colts went back merry with three points.
The barrage of attacks started immediately after it kicked-off.
In the 8th minute, Aniket followed up a Dheeraj kick, controlled it and entered the box. But his placement hit an onrushing rival custodian Bashar and went out for a corner.
Two minutes later, Komal’s shot hit the post and bounced back; and even as Boris pounced and centered, Komal’s shot was cleared off the goal line.
The livewire Boris and Ninthoi were consistently combining down the right, and after the former laid the latter, Ninthoi’s centre was blocked off a corner in the 15th minute.
Off the resultant corner, the young guns stitched a series of passes and eventually Gaston blasted it into the roof of the net to put India in the lead.
Aman doubled the lead four minutes later. Following a long ball, he beat the off-side trap and even as the Basher rushed out, Aman lobbed it over from an acute angle.
In the 25th minute, Aniket entered the box but his shot was blocked for a corner off which Aman came close, but his shot was palmed away by an onrushing Basher for another corner, which, however, went abegging.
Two minutes later, Boris collected it around the centerline, dribbled his way past a horde of rivals and blasted it in to the left of a diving Basher. India were 3-0 up by the 27th minute itself.
Head Coach Nicolai Adam brought in his first substitution immediately thereafter -- in the 28th minute -- Aimol coming in for Gaston.
India’s last chance off the first half came in injury time but Ninthoi’s shot off a free-kick from just outside the box went straight to the rival Goalkeeper.
Changing over, Aniket was denied by an onrushing Basher in the 46th minute. Aniket, with rival Central Defender Qasim Habib (the Bahrain Captain) breathing down his neck tried to flick over Basher but the Goalkeeper stood in his way.
It didn’t matter much as in the very next minute, Aniket with a deft touch found Aman in the clear who bulged it with a rasping left-footer to give India a 4-0 lead in the 47th minute.
India could have added another to the tally in the 53rd minute but Aniket’s rasper from top of the box went straight to Basher, who, undoubtedly, stayed the busiest on the field.
The very next minute India earned another corner. It was taken quick and short but Aman failed to finish it off -- his feeble push from inside the six-yard box going straight to Bashar.
Nioclai brought in his second substitution in the 70th minute – Sanjiv coming in for Aniket.
In the 73rd minute, Boris had changed flanks, tried to cut in but was brought down just outside the box. However, Sanjiv’s curler went awry.
The fifth goal came in the 75th minute. The triangle of Suresh, Amarjit and Aman opened up the rival defence with Suresh placing it in.
Niclolai brought in his last substitution in the 80th minute – this time Rahul replacing Komal.
India next play hosts Iran in their second match on September 18th.
INDIA: Dheeraj; Boris, Jitendra, Sarif, Gaston (Aimol 28th); Ninthoi, Suresh, Amarjit, Komal (Rahul – 80th), Aniket (Sanjiv – 70th), Aman.
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