India U-16 suffer humiliating defeat against Uzbeks

The India Under-16 boys suffered a humiliating 0-9 loss against hosts Uzbekistan in the qualifiers for the AFC Under-16 Championship. The heavy defeat and Tajikistan's subsequent 2-0 win against Kyrgyzstan makes it a real contest to now qualify as India would have win to ensure their passage to the continental finals.

After a great start into the qualifiers with wins against Kyrgyzstan and Bahrain, the India juniors suffered one of their worst defeats in recent years and this could derail their passage to the finals.

India had a good start into the match, but they simply couldn't score with Shohjahon Abbasov giving the Uzbek's an 18th minute lead against the run of play, but a clear-cut hattrick from Mukhiddin Odilov with goals in the 25ht, 26th and 29th minute the match was over with Uzbekistan adding two more before the break through Ibrokhim Abdullaev (40') and Shohjahon Abbasov (45'). At the breather Uzbekistan was 6-0 ahead.

Post the break Uzbekistan didn't press as much, but still added three more goals. Shohjahon Abbasov would add two more in the 60th and 68th minute to complete his four goals, while Alisher Miravez scored in-between in the 67th minute. It ended 9-0 for the Uzbek's and brightened their chances of qualification.

"The worst fears came true," Coach Thomas Joseph commented. "Once we conceded, we were not able to control it."

"Uzbekistan are a very talented and a strong side. But we were nowhere near our potential. The last match is a must-win for us."

The biggest challenge for the Team Management and the boys is to shrug off the loss, pull themselves up and look ahead to the next match; and the faster, the better.

The boys, usually chirpy, didn’t utter a single word in the Dressing Room and on the Team Bus. The state of shock brought together a promise. "We have to win our last outing, and at any cost – and we can do it."


India
1-Supratim Bhattacharjee; 2-Myron Mendes, 4-Sajid Dhot, 5-Sarthak Golui, 6-Nabin Rabha (77' 11-Vanlalduatsanga); 22-Harmanjot Singh, 7-Nitin Jyal, 15-Lalramzuava [C] (67' 8-Germanpreet Singh), 27-Geremsha Basumatary (45' 3-Suman Saha), ; 9-Uttam Rai, 10-Daniel Lalhlimpuia