AFC U19 Qualifiers: India handed third consecutive defeat by Pakistan

India out after third Consecutive Defeat

India U19 1-2 Pakistan U19

India: Joychand Singh(55')

Pakistan: Bilwal-ur-Rehman(32',42')

India bowed out of the AFC U19 Qualifiers with a defeat against Pakistan. Pakistan took the lead in the 32nd minute through Bilwal-ur-Rehman who went on to score one more in the 42nd minute which put the match beyond India's grasp, who found it hard to adjust to the snowy conditions. India however managed to put one back through Johnnychand Singh in the 55th minute.

India found it hard to cut through the rival defense by controlling the midfield which was their highlight against heavyweights like Iran and Uzbekistan. Perhaps the absence of Brandon Fernandes was felt as he had to sit out because of getting a red card in the previous match. India however have anyone but themselves to blame for their poor display in front of the goal when the pressed hard for the equalizer in the second half after Johnychand Singh's goal.

Indian Line-up:


Ravi Kumar, Akashdeep Singh, Bikramjit Singh (Arijeet Singh – 45th), Sonu, Narayan Das; Johnnychand Singh, Sehnaj Singh, Pronay Halder, Anto Xavier (Rajinder Kumar – 85th), Holicharan Narzary (Sumit Passi – 77th), Malswamfela (C)

AFC U19 Qualifiers: India take on Pakistan in their final match

                                                       

India U19 will take on arch rivals Pakistan in their final league encounter of the AFC U19 Qualifiers. With no qualification places to play for, both teams will play for pride. India were extremely unlucky not to get the qualification as they were on the verge of getting a draw if not an outright victory against the mighty Uzbekistan but ultimately India were handed their straight second defeat which meant their chances of qualification rested on Jordan vs Bahrain match, which ended against India.


The match will kick off at 5:30 PM IST.

AFC U19 Qualifiers: India suffer narrow loss against Uzbekistan

India Suffer a narrow defeat from the hands of Uzbekistan

  Uzbekistan U-19 2-1 India U-19

Uzbekistan U-19: Vladimir Kozak(32nd, 87th)

India U-19: Pronoy Halder(60th)

Indian U19 team narrowly lost against Uzbekistan U19 team in their third match of AFC U19 Qualifiers thus making it really tough for themselves to qualify for the main draw. Indian team dominated the game against the much talked about Uzbek side fielding as many as six players who took part in FIFA U17 World Cup where they reached the Quarter finals. Indian team failed to capitalize on chances that came their way and thus ended on the wrong side of the scoreline. Indian team got several goal bound chances but when it mattered the most they just could not make it happen.

India U19 team prior to the Kick-off, Courtesy: www.the-aiff.com

Indian team missed many one on ones against the rival goalkeeper sometimes hitting the crosspiece and sometimes hitting it wide. Sumit Passi's lob over the Uzbek goalkeeper stuck the woodwork in the 11th minute of the game. Brandon Fernandes' free-kick went shaving the goalpost. In the 72nd minute, Sumit Passi failed to control a volley off Holicharan Narzary's cross when he was clear all alone. 85th minute of the clock saw Malswamfela's free-kick found two Indians but neither could get a touch.

Unlike our team, Uzbekistan took their opportunities with both hands and scored the match winning goal only 3 minutes before the regulation time through Vladimir Kozak who netted a brace in the match after he gave his side the lead in the 32nd minute.

India's attacking strength suffered a huge blow when Brandon Fernandes received his second yellow card and thus getting the marching order in the 73rd minute. That might well be pointed out as the turning point of the match because at that time India were playing with a great enthusiasm as they equalized in the 60th minute through Pronoy Halder.

India's chances of making it to the main draw are slim, and they would have to give good note of themselves when they take on Pakistan on 8th October in their final game.

AFC U19 Qualifiers: India take on Uzbekistan

Indian U-19 team relaxing at the Pool, Courtesy: www.the-aiff.com

India U-19 will play their third match today against Uzbekistan U-19 in the AFC U19 Qualifiers. India lost their last game against Iran 0-3.

Uzbekistan will be as tough side as Iran if not more, specially considering the fact that six of the boys from the side were a part of the squad that reached the Quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

It is India's third match in 5 days whereas its only the Second for Uzbeks in the same.  For this the team is not getting enough time to recover. Coach Colin Toal, says, "The format of the tournament has been a bit lop-sided ever since Afghanistan pulled out. How is it that we play our third match in five days while others are playing their second on the same day? It’s disappointing; it’s sad; it’s unfortunate. And my boys are bearing the brunt. Football is about recovery -- and here we are dealing with U-19 boys. I don’t see any logic in it".


He also added that the team will be as competitive as they were against Iran. Though Indian colts lost 0-3, but the scoreline hardly reflected their performance.

The match will kickoff at 5:30 PM IST.

AFC U19 Qualifiers: India Defeated by Iran

Iran U-19 3-0 India U-19

Iran: Ahmad Abdollqhzadeh(8'),Alireza Jahan(P 67',81')

AFC U19 Qualifiers: India win their first game against Turkmenistan

India U19 cruised to their first victory against Turkmenistan U19

India U-19 3-1 Turkmenistan U-19

India: Brandon Fernandes(P 39'), Malswamfela(60'), Prabir Das(82')

Turkmenistan: Myradov(56')

Indian U-19 Team won their first match in the Group C encounter against Turkmenistan 3-1. India took the Lead through a Penalty that was awarded in the 39th minute when Brandon Fernandes was wrongly tackled in the box and the referee flashed a red card beside awarding a penalty to the Blue Tiger Juniors. Brandon took the responsibility of taking the spot kick and he did justice to it and thus giving India the lead in the 39th minute. India conceded the equalized in the 56th minute to Turkmenistan through Miradov in the 56th minute. It didn't took too long for India to regain the lead as captain Malswamfela scored the second goal to make it 2-1 to India. India then scored another goal to seal the deal in the 80th minute through Prabir Das. Unfortunately for India, Birthday boy Anto Xavier was red-carded in the 86th minute

India next play Iran on November 2.


India's starting line up:

Ravi Kumar; Narayan Das, Bikramjit Singh, Sonu, Pritam Kotal; Brandon Fernandes(Johnychand Singh – 67th minute), Anto Xavier, Sehnaj Singh, Pronay Halder(Prabir Das – 69th); Holicharan Narzary, Malswamfela (C)(Sunny – 85th).

AFC U-19 Qualifiers: Indian U-19 Team reaches Tehran

Indian U-19 team landed in Tehran on Friday morning at 4:30 PM for the AFC U-19 Qualifiers.The U-19 team were previously in Doha where they had a camp for 12 days as a part of their preparation for the AFC U-19 Qualifiers. India will start their campaign on 31st October against Turkmenistan.

SQUAD:



Goalkeepers: Ravi Kumar, Albino Gomes, Md. MoniruzzamanAnsari.
Defenders: Bikramjit Singh, Sonu, Arijeet Singh, Pawan Kumar, Akashdeep Singh, Pritam Kotal, Edwin, Narayan Das.
Midfielders: Sehnaj Singh, Prabir Das, Pranoy Halder, Johnny Chand Singh, Tirthankar Sarkar, Sunny, Anto Xavier, Brandon Fernandes.
Forwards: Holicharan Narzary, Sumit Passi, Rajinder Kumar, Malswamfela.

STAFFS:


Head Coach: Colm Joseph Toal.
Assistant Coaches: Francisco Bruto Da Costa & Syed Shabbir Pasha.
Goalkeeping Coach: Feroze Sheriff.
Physio: Vijayan Inian Lenin
Manager: CM Ranjith.

INDIA'S FIXTURES:


31.10.2011: India Vs Turkmenistan (8:30 PM)
02.11.2011: India Vs Iran(5:30 PM)
05.11.2011: Uzbekistan Vs India(5:30 PM)
08.11.2011: India Vs Pakistan(5:30 PM)

AFC U-19 Qualifiers: India in Group C

Team India has been grouped in Group C in the AFC U-19 Qualifiers alongside arch rivals Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Uzbekistan. India U-19 will play their first match against Turkmenistan on 31st October.

India's Fixtures:


31.10.2011: India Vs Turkmenistan

02.11.2011: India Vs Iran

05.11.2011: Uzbekistan Vs India

08.11.2011: India Vs Pakistan