Indian team had a disappointing start to their AFC under-16 championship qualifier Group C, at Al Qatara stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday as they lost their opening tie to Jordan 1-6.
It was Indian that started the game on an attacking note and kept the pressure on the Jordan defence in the initial minutes of the game. They got close to three chances in first ten minutes but failed to capitalize on them as Lalnunmawia and Jaybrata failed to get their shots on target.
As the game progressed took their time to settle down and used all their opportunities that came their way to emerge victorious. For Jordan it was their striker Tamer Omar who was the star of the evening as he found the back of the net four times.
India paid the price for the defence lapses as Jordan drew the first blood in the 22nd minute through Tamar. Tamar received a through ball and a solo run had him getting the ball past Indian custodian Kamaljit Singh. Eight minutes later he was once again in action and he capitalized as he was left unmarked to find the back of the net.
With a 2-0 lead in the first half the second half was no different. India tried hard to reduce the lead but it was certainly not their day. Jordan extended the lead in the 67th minute through substitute Laith Subhi.
There was no coordination between the strikers, mid fielders and the defenders as Jordan managed to break into the Indian defence at regular intervals and extended the lead everytime they got a chance.
Tamar scored his hattrick in the 69th minute to help his team take a 4-0 lead. Jordan didn’t have to wait much as in the 74th minute Laith scored his brace for the evening.
The victors never allowed India to settle down as the used their flanks well and in the 82nd minute Tamar tapped the ball in to add his name to the scoring sheet for the fourth time in the evening and also help his team take a 6-0 lead.
India managed to pull one back through Meldon D Silva in the 88th minute but it was too late for Colm Toal and his men to restrict Jordan from scoring a convincing victory.
Source: The AIFF
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Sunday 4 October 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.