By Joseph Solomon,
AIFF Media Team
VASCO (GOA): The Indian U-19 National Team defeated Thailand’s Chonburi FC 2-1 in their last home match of the FAM-FRENZ Asia Champions Trophy 2015 at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco, Goa today (October 14, 2015).
A late goal by Captain Daniel Lalhlimpuia gave the Indian colts much needed three points and propelled them to first in the standings of Group A of the Competition.
The Indian contingent faces Malaysia’s Frenz United A next in an away fixture on October 22, 2015 and mathematically need a point to secure qualification to the latter stages of the Competition.
Speaking in the Official Post Match press conference, Head Coach of the Indian U-19 National Team, Lee Johnson said, “The lads were very disciplined today. There were times when Chonburi got the better of us, but we regrouped and showed our character and desire to win the match. This win gives the Team a boost of confidence.”
“If we had taken our chances, who knows what the score-line might be”, Lee added.
Johnson’s boys were also showered with lavish praise by Chonburi FC’s Head Coach Naruephon Kaenson. “The Indian Team was better than us in every department and they deserved to win. They were very compact and hard to break down”, Kaenson stated at the Post Match press conference.
Coming on the back of a 2-1 win against Malaysia’s Frenz United A, the Indian colts took an early lead against their Thai opponents as Rakesh Oram tapped the ball home in the 6th minute of the match.
Two minutes later, the colts tried to double their lead as Rakesh found Lalramzuava on the right asphalt, bursting towards goal. However the latter was caught in defensive traffic.
While the outfield players were having a field day – nullifying the Thai attacks and launching their own – Goalkeeper Sayak Barai enjoyed the view from afar. However Barai was called into action in the 20th minute and made a fantastic save to deny Chonburi their equalizer.
Soon after, the colts were handed an opportunity to double their lead on a platter as Milan was released onto goal by an exquisite Daniel through ball. Milan however, with only the keeper to beat, failed to do his chance justice.
In the 37th minute, Ashique’s through ball found Nishu Kumar clear on the left asphalt, whose shot rattled the post after being finger-touched to safety by the Thai custodian. Three minutes later, Milan blasted his chance home, but the euphoria was cut-short by an offside flag.
The Indian colts were left to rue their complacency infront of goal in the dying embers of the first half as Chonburi FC scored to equalize their deficit. And at half-time both Teams went into the tunnel on level pegging as the score-line read 1-1.
Changing over and the colts fostered another goal-scoring opportunity soon after the kick-off. Daniel, after wriggling his way through the Thai defence shot onto goal, but the Thai custodian once again denied India with a superb save. The ricocheted ball fell into Ashique’s stride, whose venomous shot was once again kept out of the goal by the Thai custodian.
With chances piling up, Head Coach of the Indian U-19 National Team reshuffled his pack and introduced Bidyananda Singh for Milan Basumatary in an attempt to make the most out of opportunities.
Twelve minutes from time the Indian colts were handed another opportunity to break the deadlock as Daniel’s volley flew inches wide past the goal. Five minutes later, Sajid’s thumping header following a Bidyananda corner went whisker over the goal.
The breakthrough after much delay finally came in the 89th minute when Daniel skillfully slotted the ball home past the Thai custodian from 20 yards to give India the lead.
Had the Indian colts taken their chances the score-line would have been injected with more gloss, however it was the three points that mattered and at the end of time the score-line read 2-1 in favor of the Indian contingent.
India starting XI against Chonburi FC: Sayak Barai (GK); Shahbaaz Khan, Sajid Dhot, Sarthak Golui, Nishu Kumar; Lalramzuava, Rakesh Oram, Ashique (79’ – Suman Sarkar), Malsawmzuala (83’ – Moinuddin), Daniel Lalhimpuia (C), Milan Basumatary ( 63‘ – Bidyananda Singh).
Shop
