India’s hope of ending their AFC under-16 qualifiers on a positive note ended in vain as they lost to hosts UAE 6-3 in their Group D match at the Al Qatara stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
India like their previous game started their game on an attacking note and came close to scoring in the third minute of the game but Lalnunmawia headed the ball over the bar off an Amoes swirling free kick. Five minutes later Shashank powerful shot went sailing over the bar.
India didn’t have to wait much as in the tenth minute India took the lead through striker Jayabrata Dhar. The striker who was left unmarked inside the box received a through ball from Lalnunmawia and the former shot in to give visitors a 1-0 lead.
Hosts have had a great run in the tournament bounced back in the eighteenth minute and scored the equalizer through Johar Ahmed. Seven minutes later UAE capitalized on the defence lapse and took the lead through Saeed Ali Rawahi who headed the ball in to give his team a 2-1 lead.
A minute later Majid Shahin scored through a spot kick after Pawan tackled a UAE striker inside the box. With a 3-1 lead UAE started attacking more
at the Indian den and just before the half way mark Yousif Saeed headed in the ball after receiving a cross from Fares Mohamed.
The start of the second half had India getting their acts together and playing as an organized unit. And they were awarded for their hardwork as Lalnunmawia was brought down inside the box in the 54th minute. Brandon Fernandes had no problem in getting the ball past UAE custodian to reduce the deficit.
But it was certainly not India’s day as ten minutes later Khaled Khamis Rashid tapped in the ball to help his team take a 5-2 lead.
As the game progressed both the teams played an attacking and aggressive game. India reduced the deficit once again in the 80th minute as substitute Lanba Luwang headed the ball in to take the scoreline to 5-3.
India in an attempt to save a goal conceded a penalty as captain Anuj was found guilty of pulling down a player in 81st minute which was used well by Ahmed Barman to slot in the sixth goal for his team and seal the fate of the game in his team’s favor.
Source: The-aiff.com
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Wednesday 14 October 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.