Pathum Thani [Thailand], June 20 (ANI): India went down 0-1 in opposition to Uzbekistan of their second Group D match of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup on the Thammasat Stadium, in Pathum Thani, Thailand, on Tuesday.
Substitute Mukhammedali Reimov netted the one purpose of the match.
India head coach Bibiano Fernandes made one change to his beginning XI, placing striker Thanglalsoun Gangte into the combo, rather than Akash Tirkey.
According to the-aiff.com, It was a a lot completely different affair from India’s first match in opposition to Vietnam. The Uzbekistan facet appeared a assured bunch, after having held defending champions Japan 1-1 of their final sport. They managed massive swathes of actual property by the primary half in opposition to India, whose efforts to orchestrate counter assaults had been thwarted on most events.
India goalkeeper Sahil Poonia was referred to as into motion as early because the twelfth minute, when Oybek Urmonjonov pulled the set off from lengthy vary.
India had been intent to take a seat again and take in the strain deep in their very own half, as Uzbekistan piled on the strain. However the Indian defence, for essentially the most half, stored the Uzbek attackers exterior their space, limiting their makes an attempt to photographs from longish vary.
Sherzodbek Abdulboriev and Ollabergan Karimov had a few shut makes an attempt because the match ticked on past 20 minutes, however their efforts went narrowly vast.
India’s first actual likelihood of the sport got here only a minute forward of the half hour mark, when Lalpekhkua Ralte broke quick on the counter, and despatched an aerial cross from the left to Korou Singh, who was working in on the far put up. The India captain swung his left-footed volley with perfection, nevertheless it was palmed away by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Muhammadyusuf Sobirov.
Uzbekistan ahead Shodiyor Shodiboev had, what might be termed their finest likelihood of the primary half, when he weaved previous his marker into the field and slapped a left-footer in direction of the underside nook, nevertheless it went inches vast of the close to put up.
India striker Gangte reduce a forlorn determine up entrance for essentially the most half however confirmed quite a lot of coronary heart to maintain the Uzbekistan again line on their ft. He raised Indian hopes in damage time of the primary half, when he obtained in the best way of Sobirov’s clearance. The ball rolled throughout an open purpose, however the latter was shut sufficient to gather it.
Danny Meitei had one final effort for India within the first half when he was performed in between the traces by Vanlalpeka Guite, however his shot was straight on the keeper.
India appeared a bit extra full of life within the second half, although Uzbekistan loved majority possession of the ball. Substitute Dilshod Abdulaev got here inches near scoring after the restart, however his header went vast.
Fernandes launched a few possibilities quickly after, bringing on Rohen Singh rather than Lalpekhlua Ralte within the 57th minute, earlier than making a double substitution to deliver on Shashwat Panwar and Akash Tirkey rather than Thanglalsoun Gangte and Danny Meitei within the 63rd.
Akash’s introduction introduced some life into India’s sport as he appeared to hyperlink up with Ricky on the left and create alternatives. However, it was Uzbekistan who took the lead within the 82nd, as substitute Mukhammedali Reimov scored with a right-footed volley.
That modified the momentum of the match, as India went trying to find the equaliser. A final minute free-kick from the left was despatched into the close to put up by Gogocha Chungkham, in direction of Shashwat, however the latter’s left-footed flick on, presumably in direction of the far put up, was not executed with perfection, and Uzbekistan prevailed.
India XI: Sahil; Ricky Meetei, Surajkumar Singh, Pramveer, Malemngamba Thokchom; Gurnaj Singh Grewal, Danny Meitei (Shashwat Panwar 63′); Korou Singh (Gogocha Chungkham 84′), Vanlalpeka Guite (Omang Dodum 84′), Lalpekhlua Ralte (Rohen Singh 57′); Thanglalsoun Gangte (Akash Tirkey 63′). (ANI)