AFC U16 Championship 2018 - Dominant India off to a winning star
India dashed their way to a 1-0 win over Vietnam in their opening Group C game of the 2018 AFC U-16 Championship at the UM Arena Stadium in Malaysia on Friday.
It was skipper Vikram Pratap Singh's well-taken penalty in the 86th minute that helped India gain maximum points against the South-East Asian team.
Vikram threatened as early as the eighth minute. The striker latched onto a lobbed ball from midfield as his counterpart Vu Tien Long failed to contain him and he unleashed a shot to the far side which went inches wide.
It was skipper Vikram Pratap Singh's well-taken penalty in the 86th minute that helped India gain maximum points against the South-East Asian team.
Vikram threatened as early as the eighth minute. The striker latched onto a lobbed ball from midfield as his counterpart Vu Tien Long failed to contain him and he unleashed a shot to the far side which went inches wide.
In what was turning out to be an end-to-end game, there were opportunities at both ends. Niraj Kumar kept out shots from both Khuat Van Khang and Dau Ngoc Thanh, the latter being the product of a brilliant counter-attack by Vietnam.
India should have scored in the seventeenth minute save for a double miss. Ridge Demello's cross was met by Vikram whose shot was parried away by keeper Nguyen Duy Dung. Ricky Shabong failed to convert the rebound.
Coach Vu Hong Viet brought in Ngo Thanh Tai for Dau Ngoc post the break. That, however, failed to make an impact in the final third for Vietnam as India kept piling on the pressure.
A Vietnamese defender almost headed the ball into his own net but the miscued header was saved by the crossbar. Duy Dung then made two crucial saves - the first from a freekick from 19 yards and the other, picking the ball off the feet of substitute Sailo in a one-on-one situation - all within twenty minutes of the restart.
The breakthrough arrived when Japanese referee Yusuke Araki pointed to the spot after Dang Tuan Phong tripped Vikram who had darted into the box.
The Chandigarh Football Academy product made no mistake as Duy Dung's resistance was broken at last and that too from the spot.
The Chandigarh Football Academy product made no mistake as Duy Dung's resistance was broken at last and that too from the spot.
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It was a dominant performance from Bibiano Fernandes's side to open their accout in the competition.
Earlier in the day, Indonesia pulled off a surprise 2-0 win over heavyweights Iran. India next play Iran while Indonesia lock horns with Vietnam on Monday.
INDIA XI: Niraj Kumar (GK); Thoiba Singh, Shabas Moothedath, Bikash Yumnam, Gurkirat Singh; Ravi Rana (Bhuvnesh Shendre 76'), Givson Singh (Harpreet Singh 90+5'), Ricky Shabong (Lalchhanhima Sailo 61'), Ridge Demello; Bekey Oram, Vikram Pratap Singh (C).
INDIA XI: Niraj Kumar (GK); Thoiba Singh, Shabas Moothedath, Bikash Yumnam, Gurkirat Singh; Ravi Rana (Bhuvnesh Shendre 76'), Givson Singh (Harpreet Singh 90+5'), Ricky Shabong (Lalchhanhima Sailo 61'), Ridge Demello; Bekey Oram, Vikram Pratap Singh (C).
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