LATE GOALS BREAK HEART FOR INDIA U-16 TEAM AGAINST MALAYSIA

23 Jul 2018

AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Conceding two late goals at the dying moments and quite a few narrowly-missed opportunities sum up another heart-breaking loss for India U-16 Team who ended up at the receiving end of a 0-3 loss to the Malaysia U-16 Team in Kuala Lumpur today (July 23, 2018).

Indian U-16 boys who have come to Malaysia at the back of a heart-wrenching loss to Thailand last week started showing their intent right from the kick-off. Ridge blasted from inside the box in as early as the fourth minute but the Malaysian keeper took his time to parry it away.

Malaysia, on the other hand, gave the Indian defenders a tough run for the money in their own box. They continued to push constantly but Biaka and the sturdy Indian defenders averted the danger.

Givson and Ridge were looking forward to hurl the opening goal from the counter-attacking opportunities but they could hardly find any hole to breach the Malaysian defence.

Finally, the Malaysia striker Muhd Najmudin slotted their opening goal in the 26th minute to hand his team an advantage against the Indians.

Bibiano Fernandes opted for a couple of change in quick succession and introduced Sailo and Manish at the expenses of Givson and Gurkirat respectively before the boys headed to the changing room with a one-goal deficit to the Malaysians.

Changing over, Bibiano's boys started with great intensity and Ridge, on the turn of the game, hit the side-netting two minutes into the game.

India earned a free-kick in the 55th minute but Bekey failed to keep it within the frame. Three minutes later, He got another chance but miscued it completely.

India created quite a few chances in the last quarter of the game but they were missing the final punch inside the box. Sailo swivelled a long ball to Vikram but the skipper failed to connect it on time whereas two minutes later, Vikram's cross was collected safely by the Malaysian goalkeeper before Ravi could convert it.

But they kept the Malaysian defence on check throughout. Five minutes to the whistle, India earned back-to-back three corners but Bekey's tries could have been dealt in a better way by the Indian attackers inside the box.

As Bibiano Fernandes opted to push more legs inside the opposition half, Malaysian attackers took the advantage and scored a peach of a goal to double their lead in the 88th minute.

Four minutes later, They hurled another attacking move from the left flank which resulted in their third goal to leave the Indian team flabbergasted.

India U-16 Team will face the same opponents once again on Thrusday (July 26, 2018).