India U-16 Boys trash Kyrgyzstan 7-0!

The India Under-16 boys started the qualifiers for the AFC Under-16 Championship in Tashkent with a bang. India trashed Kyrgyzstan 7-0 in their Group C opener at the Transportation Institute Stadium, while Bahrain and Tajikistan played out a 2-2 draw, which could be useful for India's campaign in the qualifiers.

A lot of these boys have had a nine month training at the IMG Football Academy in Florida, USA. And that experience of training and playing abroad is coming handy for the youngsters now.

Talented strikers Uttam Rai and Daniel Lalhlimpuia until his substitution were a constant threat to the Kyrgyzstan goal. Uttam Rai gave India a quick 2-0 lead with goals in the 5th and 7th minute, while Daniel Lalhlimpuia scored a brace in the 17th and 42nd to make it 4-0, but it was Uttam Rai again to make it 5-0 on the verge of half-time. After the break coach Thomas Joseph did use his substitutes, but still Uttam Rai would add two more in the 55th and 85th minute to finish the 7-0 rout.

"This is an excellent set of boys," former India coach Rustam Akramov certified while watching the game. "They complement each other in midfield and defence. The two strikers change their positions and there’s positive play overall."

"Results at this stage hardly matters. But I tell you, these Indian boys belong to a different generation," Akramov waved prior to leaving at the interval. "I'll be back for the next match," the former India coach promised.

It was an impressive start, but coach Thomas Joseph is careful not to go overboard. "We can't be complacent. The Championship has just started for us. We need to focus on our next match," Thomas Joseph maintained.

After the great start the qualifiers continue on Monday, October 3 with a game against Bahrain.


India
1-Supratim Bhattacharjee; 2-Myron Mendes, 3-Suman Saha (81' 6-Nabin Rabha), 4-Sajid Dhot, 5-Sarthak Golui; 7-Nitin Jyal (51' 12-Lalrammuana), 14-Raja Rawat, 22-Harmanjot Singh, 15-Lalramzuava [C]; 9-Uttam Rai, 10-Daniel Lalhlimpuia (65' 11-Vanlalduatsanga)