AFC U-22 Qualifiers: Impressive India lose 1-2 against Iraq

The India Under-22s faced tougher opposition in the second match in Iraq at the AFC Under-22 Asian Championship qualifiers against whom the team lost 1-2 at the Royal Oman Police Stadium in Muscat, Oman.

It was an open game with chances on both sides with India impressing with their flexible play and formations, Arthur Papas has in weeks made a tough unit out of the boys. But Iraq used their chances better and their captain Ali Mohammed Alialah headed in a Jawad Kadhim cross in the 35th minute after Jawad got past Vishal Kumar and had sneaked into the box. Only a few minutes later captain Jeje Lalpekhlua limped off and substitute Holicharan Narzary almost scored off his first touch with the ball with his header just off the target. His partner Manandeep Singh in the 42nd minute almost scored but Alialah was able to deflect it the last moment for a corner.

After the break Iraq doubled the lead in the 49th minute through Ammar Abdul Hussein and it seemed all over. But despite down by two goals, India didn't panic. Rather, they regrouped. After a string of passes in the 69th minute, Lalrindika Ralte’s long-ranger almost beat the diving rival goalkeeper Yaseen Yas but he managed to palm it away for a corner. In the very next minute, Dika's free-kick hit the wall.

India were now putting Iraq under pressure with Dika and Allwyn's one-twos had the Iraqis guessing. In the 75th minute, Manandeep tried to tap in between the two stoppers but Yaseen Yas was quick to react.

The Iraqis tried to slow the game down in the last quarter but Alwyn was too good for them. He shrugged off three defenders and tap it over an onrushing Yaseen in the 82nd minute to reduce the deficit.

The rest of the match, India went all out but Iraq managed to hold on. A handball shout was even ruled out. The books may suggest the score for future but the spirit and camaraderie will never be reflected in that. This is a resurgent India who plays till the final whistle and this generation fights until the end.

India next play the United Arab Emirates on July 28 in a crucial tie which could decide, if India retain a chance to reach the final round or not.


INDIA Under-22s

1-Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; 26-Vishal Kumar, 14-Souvik Ghosh, 6-Prathamesh Maulingkar, 5-Narayan Das; 34-Pronay Halder (58' 7-Ganeshan), 17-Ongnam Milan Singh (83' 31-Romeo Fernandes), 8-Lalrindika Ralte; 12-Alwyn George, 35-Manandeep Singh, 10-Jeje Lalpekhlua [Captain] (38' 19-Holicharan Harzary)