AFC U-22 Qualifiers: India hold mighty UAE to a draw

The India Under-22s drew one-all against the United Arab Emirates in their third match at the AFC Under-22 Asian Championship qualifiers at the Royal Oman Police Stadium in Muscat, Oman to keep their chances to qualify for the finals alive.

Indian coach Arthur Papas made three changes to his starting line-up as Vishal Kumar, Alwyn George and Jeje Lalpekhlua were benched, while they were replaced by Abhishek Das, Saiju Mon Muthappan and Tirthankar Sarkar in a more defensive starting line-up to counter the UAE.

The UAE's Jamal Ibrahim gave his side a 9th minute lead with India only getting the equaliser late in the game through substitute Romeo Fernandes just two minutes from time.

The early UAE goal was an initial setback but it didn't un-nerve India. Rather, they stayed content in building up from back. In the midfield, it was all about the workload. Be it a robust Manandeep Singh upfront, an intelligent Lalrindika Ralte, an irrepressible Milan Singh or a tireless Pranay Halder, the Indians pressed hard all throughout. The first half yielded seven corners and a handball shout was ruled out in the 40th minute inside the UAE penalty box.

Changing over, the UAE defended all throughout – not a strategy but were forced back. They tried to change the combination a number of times, but it failed. Romeo's fresh legs on the right stretched them and in the 51st minute, Tirthankar Sarkar missed heading into an empty second post, the ball agonisingly missing. Jeje replaced Tirthankar in the 69th minute and within two minutes, his free header off a Milan Singh corner just sailed over. UAE were just about surviving dangerously.

Eventually Romeo headed home in the 88th minute following a Vishal Kumar throw-in down the right. A minute later, Romeo had the best chance of the day when he sneaked in between the wall on the left, ran all the way into the 6-yard box but the rival goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Hosani's legs came in between.

National Coach Wim Koevermans and Technical Director Rob Baan congratulated the team on their splendid fightback. "I told you, you will find some good boys in this batch," India U-22 coach Arthur Papas told senior coach Wim Koevermans.

"The boys fought well. It was heartening to fight with such a spirit against such a quality side," AIFF general Secretary Kushal Das, who had dropped in to watch the match, commented. The match ended 1-1 and India could have easily gone back home with three points.

India next play Turkmenistan on June 30 and would need the three points to stay in contention for a place in the final round.


INDIA Under-22s

1-Gurpreet Singh Sandhu [Captain]; 3-Abhishek Das, 14-Souvik Ghosh, 6-Prathamesh Maulingkar, 5-Narayan Das; 34-Pronay Halder (76' 26-Vishal Kumar), 17-Ongnam Milan Singh, 28-Saiju Mon Muthappan (48' 31-Romeo Fernandes), 32-Tirthankar Sarkar (69' 10-Jeje Lalpekhlua), 8-Lalrindika Ralte, 35-Manandeep Singh