AFC Under-16 Championship: India and Syria play out goalless draw

The India Under-16 boys and their Syrian counterparts played out a goalless draw in their second Group D match in the AFC Under-16 Championships at the Rah Ahan Stadium in Tehran. India now have a point from two matches and still have a chance to qualify for the quarterfinals.

The Indians were not overawed by the physically stronger Syrians but Colm Toal's wards took a defensive approach and resorted to a long-ball counter-attack tactic throughout while the Syrians tried to break the Indian defence without avail and when they did keeper Supratim Bhattacharjee was there.

The initial Indian thrust almost paid dividends when in the sixth minute captain Lalramzuava's free-kick from the edge of the box beat all only to hit the post and bounce back. Three minutes later, rival goalkeeper Khaled Ibrahim gathered the ball in time before either Sarthak Golui or Uttam Rai could pounce upon. Thereafter Syria had more of the ball though not being really dangerous as India stood its ground. Then Syrian Ahmad Ashqar's freekick in the 34th minute did not trouble goalie Supratim Bhattacharjee while Abdulatef Salkeni, who was later substituted, missed a closed range header in the 39th minute. It remained goalless at the break.

Syria came out with all guns blazing after the break and put India on the backfoot, but they survived this phase and in the 50th minute, a diving Khaled kept off a Alen Deory effort and the very next minute, Uttam Rai's touch just got that bit longer as he had almost got past rival central defender Jehad Bssmar, who had an outstanding game and denied Uttam Rai on the few occasions he broke trough.

Thereafter Syria continued to control proceedings, but India had their chances of counter-attacks like in the 73rd minute, when Uttam Rai broke past the entire defence but the Syrians jointly managed to deny the Sikkimese youngster. Towards the end Syria once again put pressure on India, but the South Asians once more survived the pressure and the match ended goalless.

India play their third and final Group League match against China on Thursday, September 27 at the Rah Ahan Stadium in Tehran.


MATCH STATS

India 0-0 Syria - Goals: none

India
20-Supratim Bhattacharjee - 4-Gurba Gagrai, 7-Mohammed Sajid Dhot, 8-Myron Mendes, 11-Sarthak Golui - 15-Alen Deory (74' 17-Geremsha Basumatary), 18-Germanpreet Singh, 22-Khiangte Lalramzuava [C] (66' 2-Nitin Jyal), 3-Raja Rawat (66' 21-Issac Vanmalswama) - 10-Uttam Rai, 14-Daniel Lalhlimpuia
Unused Subs: 1-Agaipal Singh, 23-Avinash Kumar; 5-Jimmy Maibam, 6-Manraj Singh, 9-Nabin Rabha, 12-Vivekananda Sagayaraj, 13-Vanlalduatsanga, 16-Kamalpreet Singh, 19-Hanan Javed Nellikkavil

Syria
1-Khaled Ibrahim - 2-Obela Sharbek, 21-Jehad Bssmar, 23-Mahmoud Karzoun, 14-Moumen Naji - 8-Tarek Almohammad Hndawi [C], 6-Ahmad Ashqar, 20-Mohamad Baraa Diyar Bakrli, 19-Bakr Ghalyoum (78' 7-Omar Mshhdani) - 9-Mohamad Rabee Srour (58' 15-Khaled Kourdoghli), 11-Abdulatef Salkeni (74' 5-Fahmi Hasan)
Unused Subs: 16-Alaa Al Omar, 22-Abdullah Alishak; 3-Abdullah Jniat, 10-Ali Baaj, 12-Fares Almozal, 13-Shahin Mohamad, 17-Subie Alhusni, 18-Mohamad Alomran

Referee
Strebre Delovski (Australia)