2014 AFC Under-14 Championship qualifiers: India Boys match schedule

The India Under-14 boys will travel to Iran later this month to participate in the 2014 AFC Under-14 Championship qualifiers to face the hosts Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan with Sri Lanka opting out.

In their Group D opener India face the hosts Iran (April 23), then Kyrgyzstan (April 24), Pakistan (April 28) and finally Turkmenistan (April 29) at the Samen Al Aemeh Stadium in Mashhad.

The Asian Football Confederation have restructured the AFC Under-14 Championship into a proper tournament instead of just being a Football Festival. The 46 teams were divided into four zones (West, Central and South, ASEAN and East) with 12 of the teams coming from West Asia, 13 from Central and South, 11 teams from ASEAN and 10 teams from the East, but some nations have pulled out of the competition,.

The top two teams from each zone, totalling eight teams, will qualify to the AFC U-14 Championship 2014 Finals.

2014 AFC Challenge Cup: Laos & Turkmenistan get last spots!

Former champions India have failed to qualify for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup in Maldives. That was known for some time, but due to the late pullout of Brunei it was not clear which two sides would qualify as the best two teams amongst the five qualification groups.

In the end Laos and Turkmenistan have received the tickets to next year's finals as the two best runners-up as they join hosts Maldives plus the five group winners Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Palestine and the Philippines in their quest to qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

The non-participation of Brunei in Group E meant that the results of the matches in the four other groups between the runner-up and the bottom-placed team were declared null and void based on Article 16.1 and Appendix 2 of the tournament regulations.

The affected matches were as follows
Group A: India 2-1 Chinese Taipei
Group B: Macau 0-3 Tajikistan
Group C: Laos 1-1 Mongolia
Group D Bangladesh 4-0 Northern Mariana Islands

With these results no longer being factored into the outcome, Laos emerged as the best of the second-placed team with four points. Turkmenistan, AFC Challenge Cup runners-up in 2012 and 2010, took the second ticket to the Maldives, with their superior goal difference separating them from 2008 champions India, Bangladesh and inaugural winners Tajikistan of 2006, who all finished with three points.

AFC U-22 Qualifiers: India trash Turkmenistan 4-1

The India Under-22s won 4-1 against Turkmenistan in their fourth match at the AFC Under-22 Asian Championship qualifiers at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, Oman to keep their chances to qualify for the finals alive with their final match against the hosts Oman on July 3.

Coach Arthur Papas made five changes to his starting eleven keeping with his style of using as many players as possible from his squad and it worked once more for him and his team in an emphatic victory.

India started on a cautious note. They stayed content in building from the back and switched flanks on a regular basis. There were passes being stitched, positions being interchanged. India had the regulator with them – they controlled the match and the goal stayed inevitable but they to wait a while. Sometimes one became impatient as opening the rival goalmouth at times, looked like improbable -- simply because Turkmenistan were not willing to push forward. By the 15th minute itself, they had 10 men defending.

The deadlock eventually broke in the 36th minute. Romeo Fernandes, India's super-sub against the United Arab Emirates made justice of Arthur Papas fielding him in the Starting XI. As he broke through inside the penalty box, rival defender Komekov Hemayat, beaten by Romeo’s sudden burst, found it best to bring him down. Midfielder Lalrindika Ralte slotted the penalty past Turkmen goalkeeper Garayev to put India in the lead.

Barely four minutes after Dika's penalty conversion, Alwyn George, still then, a bit suffocated in between a horde of Turkmenistan players, got past two but his prompt left-footer hit the post.

Changing over, Turkmenistan started-off with more purpose. The first five minutes had the Indians suddenly defending. The organisation stayed good but despite it, captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu had to stretch back to palm over a deflection. On the counter, a Romeo placement off a Vishak Kumar throw-in hit the upright in the 51st minute and then in the 55th minute, Manandeep Singh's long-ranger sailed over. And then Turkmenistan struck in the 59th minute – Farhad Italmazov's prompt right-footer beating a diving Gurpreet.

But the young Indians regrouped quickly – Alwyn George capitalising on a defensive lapse, chipped it over an onrushing Garayev in the 68th minute. Alwyn could have settled the issue in the 71st minute when he ran in between the entire defence and entered the rival box only for Garayev's legs to deprive him. But luckily it didn't matter as Romeo got his name on the scoring sheet for the second consecutive match in the 76th minute. This time, Alwyn provided the perfect supplier for him and Romeo made no mistake.

The second penalty for India on the day came in the 85th minute when substitute striker Jeje Lalpekhlua was pushed inside the box and Jeje gleefully converted from the spot.

For the rest of the match, the Indians maintained their shape. Turkmenistan did try to press hard but it came a bit too late and it ended 4-1 for India, who now have seven points from four matches and are in with a chance to qualify for the finals.


INDIA Under-22s

1-Gurpreet Singh Sandhu [Captain]; 26-Vishal Kumar, 4-Deepak Devrani, 14-Souvik Ghosh, 5-Narayan Das; 7-Ganeshan (63' 32-Tirthankar Sarkar), 17-Ongnam Milan Singh, 8-Lalrindika Ralte, 31-Romeo Fernandes (82' 3-Abhishek Das), 12-Alwyn George, 35-Manandeep Singh (69' 10-Jeje Lalpekhlua)

Jeje Lalpekhlua to captain India Under-22s

Pune FC's Jeje Lalpekhlua will lead India in the AFC Under-22 Asian Championship qualifiers to be played in Muscat from June 23. Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has been named his deputy. The Indian squad which has been preparing at the Al Wasl Training Ground in Dubai leaves for Muscat on Thursday, June 21 morning for the qualifiers.

The final 23 players were also named for the qualifiers with Ramandeep Singh (Air India), Chingkhei Meetei Yumnam (Tata Football Academy), David Lalbiakzara (Pune FC), Bikramjit Singh Sr. (Pailan Arrows) and Rajinder Kumar (Pailan Arrows) being left out of the final squad.

"It is a huge honour for me to lead my country," Jeje said on the appointment. "We have been training under Head Coach Arthur Papas since the first week of June and he has been a pillar of support to all of us," Jeje added.

India who have been clubbed with hosts Oman, Lebanon, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Turkmenistan in Group A of the qualifiers. India open their campaign against Lebanon on June 23.

Meanwhile, the India U-22s defeated DNATA Club 4-1 in their second friendly match yesterday. After a barren first half, Lalrindika Ralte scored a brace for India while Shyjumon and striker Manandeep Singh scored one apiece.


INDIA U-22 Team

Goalkeepers
Soram Poirei Angamba (Shillong Lajong FC), Ravi Kumar (Pailan Arrows), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (East Bengal Club)

Defenders
Abhishek Das (East Bengal Club), Narayan Das (Tata Football Academy), Deepak Devrani (Pailan Arrows), Souvik Ghosh (Pailan Arrows), Pritam Kotal (Pailan Arrows), Vishal Kumar (Pailan Arrows), Prathmesh Maulingkar (Pailan Arrows)

Midfielders
Romeo Fernandes (Dempo SC), Ganeshan (Pune FC), Pronoy Haldar (Pailan Arrows), Shyjumon (Chirag United Kerala), Deepak Prakash (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), Lalrindika Ralte (Churchill Brothers SC), Tirthankar Sarkar (Pailan Arrows), Ongnam Milan Singh (Pailan Arrows), Simranjit Singh (Tata Football Academy)

Forwards
Alwin George (Pailan Arrows), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC, Captain), Holicharan Narzary (Pailan Arrows), Manandeep Singh (Air India)

Officials
Arthur Papas (Head Coach)

AFC U-22 Asian Cup Qualifiers: Indian Group fixtures out

The qualifiers for the inaugural AFC Under-22 Asian Cup will be held in June/July 2012 with the tournament proper to be played in 2013. India have been drawn in a tough Group A along with the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Oman, Turkmenistan and Lebanon. The Group A matches will be played at the Royal Oman Police Stadium and the Al Seeb Sports Stadium in Muscat, Oman.

In total 41 Member Associations have entered the fray to grab 15 spots in the final competition to be played in 2013. The teams were divided into six groups of six teams each and one group of five. They will play one-round league format and the top two teams will qualify for the tournament proper along with the best third-placed team in all the groups. The hosts of the AFC Under-22 Asian Cup Finals will get a direct berth.


GROUP A FIXTURES
United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Oman, India, Turkmenistan, Lebanon

23-Jun-2012: Oman - United Arab Emirates
23-Jun-2012: India - Lebanon
23-Jun-2012: Iraq - Turkmenistan
25-Jun-2012: United Arab Emirates - Turkmenistan
25-Jun-2012: Iraq - India
25-Jun-2012: Oman - Lebanon
28-Jun-2012: Turkmenistan - Oman
28-Jun-2012: Lebanon - Iraq
28-Jun-2012: United Arab Emirates - India
30-Jun-2012: India - Turkmenistan
30-Jun-2012: Lebanon - United Arab Emirates
30-Jun-2012: Iraq - Oman
03-Jul-2012: Turkmenistan - Lebanon
03-Jul-2012: Oman - India
03-Jul-2012: United Arab Emirates - Iraq


THE OTHER GROUPS

Group B: Saudi Arabia, Syria, Pakistan, Palestine, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka
Group C: Bahrain, Iran, Tajikistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives
Group D: Uzbekistan, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nepal
Group E: Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Macau, Timor Leste
Group F: North Korea, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Laos, Cambodia
Group G: South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Chinese Taipei, Philippines

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: A look back & the stats

The 2012 AFC Challenge Cup was held in Kathmandu, Nepal from March 8 to 19, 2012. Defending champions North Korea once more won the title by beating Turkmenistan again in the final like in 2010. The final victory qualifies North Korea for the next 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia.

The 12 day tournament saw eight teams in action with the matches not always going as per script, but in the end the overwhelming favourites North Korea won the AFC Challenge Cup title for a second time.

For Team India the 2012 edition of the AFC Challenge Cup was a complete disaster. Three matches - no goals, eight conceded, no points. The simple stats speak a clear language about a very poor outing.


FIXTURES & RESULTS

Group A
Maldives, Nepal, Palestine, Turkmenistan

08-Mar-2012: Turkmenistan 3-1 Maldives
08-Mar-2012: Nepal 0-2 Palestine
10-Mar-2012: Palestine 0-0 Turkmenistan
10-Mar-2012: Maldives 1-0 Nepal
12-Mar-2012: Nepal 0-3 Turkmenistan
12-Mar-2012: Maldives 0-2 Palestine

Group B
India, North Korea, Philippines, Tajikistan

09-Mar-2012: North Korea 2-0 Philippines
09-Mar-2012: India 0-2 Tajikistan
11-Mar-2012: Tajikistan 0-2 North Korea
11-Mar-2012: Philippines 2-0 India
13-Mar-2012: North Korea 4-0 India
13-Mar-2012: Tajikistan 1-2 Philippines

Semifinals
16-Mar-2012: Turkmenistan 2-1 Philippines
16-Mar-2012: North Korea 2-0 Palestine

3rd Place Playoff
19-Mar-2012: Philippines 4-3 Palestine

Final
19-Mar-2012: Turkmenistan 1-2 North Korea

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: North Korea retain title!

In football sometimes history does repeat itself and it happened this afternoon at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu. Defending champions North Korea retained the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup title with a 2-1 victory against last time runners-up Turkmenistan to qualify as the first team for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia.

In the earlier third-place playoff match surprise package the Philippines beat Palestine in a seven goal thriller 4-3 to finish third, a huge success for the Southeast Asian nation.


Final: Turkmenistan 1-2 (1-1) North Korea

The final got of to a great start for Turkmenistan, who took a 2nd minute lead when captain Berdy Shamuradov burst through on goal and smashed an unstoppable drive past North Korea goalkeeper Myong-Suk Ri. Interestingly Shamuradov had also scored Turkmenistan's first goal in the 2010 finals.

The North Koreans had more from the match, but the Turkmen defence often held their ground in the first session though conceding the equaliser in the 35th minute when Nam-Chol Pak's cross from the right met an unmarked Il-Gwan Jong, whose header went in past Turkmen keeper Rahmanberdi Alyhanov into the net.

Substitute Arslanmyrat Ammanov rattled the North Korean crossbar with a powerful 67th minute free-kick, but the climax was still to come. Turkmenistan was handed the golden opportunity to win the match in the 83rd minute then Ammanov was brought down in the box by Song-Hyok Jang, but Shamuradov would go on to miss the penalty; while at the other end only a couple of minutes later David Sakisov brought down Kwang-Ryong Park. This time Song-Hyok Jang, who had committed the earlier foul at the other, would step-up and score for North Korea.

It ended 2-1 for North Korea. Once more penalties decided the fate of a final between these two side, once more the East Asians would lift the title and qualify for the AFC Asian Cup.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: North Korea & Turkmenistan reach final

The two semifinals at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup were played today at the Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu. In the first semifinal Group A winners Turkmenistan took on surprise entrants the Philippines, while in the second semifinal defending champions North Korea took on Palestine.

Group B

Turkmenistan 2-1 (0-1) Philippines
Turkmenistan overcame a fighting Philippines to reach the finals of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup at the Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu. The Central Asian side won 2-1 and will now try to improve on their runners-up finish in 2010. The Philippines looked more dangerous at the start and took a deserving 25th minute lead when Phil Younghusband headed home Mulders' cross, his fourth of the campaign. But things would change in the second session with Arslanmyrat Amanov equalising for Turkmenistan in the 79th minute and things got worse for the Philippines when Guvanch Abylov robbed fellow substitute Roel Gener the ball and set-up Gahryman Chonkayev who scored the winner with four minutes left to play. The Philippines disappointment was compounded in stoppage-time when keeper Neil Etheridge was red carded for an off the ball incident involving goal scorer Chonkayev.

North Korea 2-0 (1-0) Palestine
Defending champions North Korea have reached the final again with a 2-0 win against Palestine at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup semifinal at the Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu. North Korea put pressure on Palestine, but only in the 42nd minute they made the breakthrough with Kwang-Ryong Pak firing the ball into the Palestine net after an earlier shot had bounced back off the underside of the crossbar. The East Asians kept the pressure on the West Asians with the second goal coming in the 69th minute once more through Kwang-Ryong Pak who capitalised on the poor Palestinian defending, skipped past Saleh with ease and side-footed the ball into the empty net to cap a comfortable win. It was enough as North Korea won the match 2-0.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: Turkmenistan & Palestine qualify for semifinals

The third and final round Group A matches were played at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup simultaneously in Kathmandu today. While hosts Nepal took on Turkmenistan at the Dashrath Stadium, the Maldives faced Palestine in a do-or-die match to qualify for the semifinals.

Group A

Nepal 0-3 (0-1) Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan made sure that they would top Group A with a 3-0 win against the hosts Nepal in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup at the Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu. The game came to life for the first time in the seventh minute when Elman Tagayev slotted the ball past Kiran Kumar after Arslanmyrat Amanov's angled pass easily dissected the loose Nepali defence. Turkmenistan kept the pressure on the Nepali goal, but the scoreline remained only 0-1 at half-time. Nepal were better in the second session, but the Turkmen remained in control and doubled their lead in the 79th minute when Chonkayev slid in near the six yard box but Biraj Maharjan got the last touch for an own goal. A Guvanch Hangeldiyev strike made it 3-0 for Turkmenistan a minute from time. Turkmenistan topped their group due to a better goal difference then Palestine and they now await tomorrow's clash between Tajikistan and the Philippines to find out their semifinal opponents, while Nepal ended a disasterous campaign with a goal and a point.

Maldives 0-2 (0-0) Palestine
Palestine beat the Maldives 2-0 to qualify for the semifinals of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup at the Halchowk Stadium, Kathmandu. The islanders started the match knowing that a win was needed to see them through and they started like that as Palestine took their time to settle down. After wasting a couple of good chances Palestine finally broke the deadlock in the 59th minute when a lapse of concentration in the Maldives defence allowed Husam Wadi to open the scoring with a powerful header of a Mohammed Mohammed cross. The Maldives tried their best for the equaliser but there was no way through the well-organised Palestine defence and the islanders were caught out against the run of play when Ashraf Al Fawaghra scored with a fine individual effort in injury time as Palestine confirmed their second-place finish behind Turkmenistan and a semifinal match with Group B winners North Korea.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: Host Nepal out, others target Semis

The second round Group A matches were played in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Kathmandu today. While Palestine met Turkmenistan at the Halchowk Stadium, later in the day the Maldives faced the hosts Nepal at the Dashrath Stadium.

Group A

Palestine 0-0 Turkmenistan
Palestine and Turkmenistan played out a goalless draw in their second Group A match in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup at the Halchowk Stadium. With both teams now on four points and the Maldives on three it leaves the group wide open with the final round matches to be played on Monday. The first half was a dull affair with Turkmenistan having more of the ball, while Palestine was content to allow their opponents more of the possession. But things changed after the break as Palestine were suddenly in the game and had their chances, while Turkmenistan had chances for a late winner.

Maldives 1-0 (0-0) Nepal
Host Nepal are out of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup after 0-1 defeat against the Maldives at the Dashrath Stadium. The Nepalis have only themselves to blame as they dominated most of the match, but simply failed to score. Meanwhile the Maldives are back in the race for a semifinal spot as they have their destiny in their own hands against Palestine. After a goalless first session it was the Maldives that took the lead against the run of play, with Mohamed Rasheed capitalising on some slack Nepal defending to fire the ball low past Ritesh and in off his left-hand post. Nepal tried to get the equaliser, but it wasn't to be.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: Turkmenistan & Palestine start with wins

The 2012 AFC Challenge Cup was inaugurated by FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter in Kathmandu's Dashrath Stadium today ahead of the second Group A match between hosts Nepal and Palestine, while earlier in the day Turkmenistan took on the Maldives at the Halchowk Stadium.

Group A

Turkmenistan 3-1 (1-1) Maldives
Turkmenistan had a good start into the AFC Challenge Cup with a 3-1 win against the Maldives at the Halchowk Stadium. The Central Asian side were the better of the two sides, but the Maldives went ahead against the run of a play in the 20th minute when Riley Riwan's cross into the penalty area was mis-headed by Umidjan Astanov allowing Hasan Adhuham to latch onto the ball and score with his first international goal. Turkmenistan drew level in the 33rd minute through a Ruslan Mingazov strike.
Turkmenistan kept the pressure on the Maldives, who did some great defending; but in the 78th minute substitute Gahryman Chonkayev scored with a brilliantly-struck free-kick, awarded after Imran Fazeel brought down Shohrat Soyunov about 20 yards from the Maldives goal and only three minutes later referee Yousef Al Marzouq red carded Ahmed Tariq and Turkmenistan made the most of their extra-man advantage when Amanov sealed the 3-1 win with a superb solo effort.

Nepal 0-2 (0-1) Palestine
Hosts Nepal couldn't fulfil the high expectations of the large crowd at the Dashrath Stadium as they went down 0-2 against Palestine. The West Asian side took an early fourth minute lead when Murad Said shot from the edge of the box but Nepal goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong fumbled and Mohammed Mohammed raced to retrieve it from line before cutting back for Fahed Attal for a simple tap in from close range. Thereafter Nepal had their chances, but the Palestinian goalkeeper Ramzi Saleh had a great game in goal as Nepal where frustrated a numerous times. The Nepalese defence was caught napping when Alla Atya sent Mohammed free inside the area with only Chemjong to beat, which he did with an ease rolling the ball beyond the reach of the keeper to make it 2-0 to Palestine in the 65th minute. Nepal did have their chances close to the end, but it was a bad start for the hosts.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: Who are the favourites?

The 2012 AFC Challenge Cup will kick-off tomorrow in the Nepali capital Kathmandu with eight nations taking part in the second tier tournament for national teams from across Asia, which the AFC likes to call emerging nations in football. Like in the last couple of editions the champions earn a spot at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia.

AFC Acting President Zhang Jilong stressed this point by saying, "And what makes this edition really interesting for the fans is that the winner will qualify directly for Asia's biggest tournament - the AFC Asian Cup in Australia in 2015."

"I expect to see top-level action on the pitch and ask the players to follow the spirit of fair play, no matter how intense the competition," added the AFC Acting President.


But who are the favourites to win the fourth edition of the AFC Challenge Cup?

Defending champions North Korea are the top favourites to retain their title, then the East Asian nation are by far the highest ranked at 111th with Tajikistan the closest at 145th. The North Koreans can build on a squad which played the 2010 FIFA World Cup, an experience from which the other nations are far away.

But North Korea are in the Group of Death along with former champions Tajikistan and India plus the Philippines, who have brought in a number of Player of Filipino Origin from around the world. On their day anyone amongst these four could top the group, though under normal circumstances North Korea should still top this group while the other three sides would fight for second spot.

The other Group A on paper looks weaker with hosts Nepal, Palestine, Turkmenistan and the Maldives. The Palestinians have looked good in preparations even beating Azerbaijan 2-0, who had earlier beaten India rather easily 3-0 with Turkmenistan a tough Central Asian side, who will have their good build on their side; but even the young hosts Nepal under English Graham Roberts will aim to reach the semifinals.

The tournament starts tomorrow and we will know on March 19, if North Korea can retain the title or if someone else wins the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup fixtures

The finals of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal from March 8 to 19, 2012. Under the new qualifying format 16 nations played to qualify for the tournament proper with the hosts only chosen after the eight finalists had been decided.

In Group A hosts Nepal take on the Maldives, Palestine and Turkmenistan; while in the tougher Group B defending champions North Korea take on former champions India and Tajikistan plus the Philippines.


FIXTURES

Group A
Maldives, Nepal, Palestine, Turkmenistan

08-Mar-2012: Nepal - Palestine
08-Mar-2012: Turkmenistan - Maldives
10-Mar-2012: Palestine - Turkmenistan
10-Mar-2012: Maldives - Nepal
12-Mar-2012: Nepal - Turkmenistan
12-Mar-2012: Maldives - Palestine

Group B
India, North Korea, Philippines, Tajikistan

09-Mar-2012: North Korea - Philippines
09-Mar-2012: India - Tajikistan
11-Mar-2012: Philippines - India
11-Mar-2012: Tajikistan - North Korea
13-Mar-2012: North Korea - India
13-Mar-2012: Tajikistan - Philippines

Semifinals
16-Mar-2012: Winner Group A - Runners-Up Group B
16-Mar-2012: Winner Group B - Runners-Up Group A

Final
19-Mar-2012: Winner SF 1 - Winner SF 2

AFC Challenge Cup: India in tough Group B

The draw of groups and fixtures for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup to be held in Nepal from March 8 to 19, 2012 has been carried out by the Asian Football Confederation.

Group A contains hosts Nepal along with Turkmenistan, the Maldives and Palestine; while Group B has three former champions in defending champions North Korea, 2008 winners India, 2006 champions Tajikistan along with the first-timers the Philippines.

For India it will be a tough passage to reach the 2015 AFC Asian Cup to be held in Australia. India play their first match against Tajikistan on March 9. They next play the Philippines on March 11 and their last Group League match against North Korea on March 13.

Both the semifinals have been slated for March 16 while the final will be played on March 19.


GROUPS & FIXTURES

Group A
Nepal, Turkmenistan, Maldives, Palestine

08-Mar-2012: Nepal - Palestine
08-Mar-2012: Turkmenistan - Maldives
10-Mar-2012: Palestine - Turkmenistan
10-Mar-2012: Maldives - Nepal
12-Mar-2012: Nepal - Turkmenistan
12-Mar-2012: Maldives - Palestine

Group B
North Korea, India, Tajikistan, Philippines

09-Mar-2012: North Korea - Philippines
09-Mar-2012: India - Tajikistan
11-Mar-2012: Philippines - India
11-Mar-2012: Tajikistan - North Korea
13-Mar-2012: North Korea - India
13-Mar-2012: Tajikistan - Philippines

Semifinals
16-Mar-2012: Winner Group A - Runners-Up Group B
16-Mar-2012: Winner Group B - Runners-Up Group A

3rd Place Playoff
19-Mar-2012: Loser SF1 - Loser SF2

Final
19-Mar-2012: Winner SF1 - Winner SF2

India Under-19 start with a win against Turkmenistan

The India Under-19 boys started their AFC Under-19 Championship qualifiers in Group C with a 3-1 win against Turkmenistan at the Takhti Stadium in Tehran tonight.

Turkmenistan had the better start into the game, but after their initial burst it was the young Indians who took charge of the game. Brandon Fernandes and Sehnaj Singh took control in midfield and with Holicharan Narzary and Captain Malswamfela interchanging, the Turkmenistan defence was stretched a lot.

The first goal for India came in the 39th minute. Brandon Fernandes, who with his deft touches had always kept the rival defence guessing, got past Gurt Podarov with a sudden burst of speed on the right side. Caught on the wrong foot, Podarov, all in desperation had little option but to bring Brandon down inside the box only to be given marching orders. Brandon gleefully converted from the spot to put India in the lead. It stayed 1-0 for India at the breather.

After the break against the run of play Myradov equalised for for Turkmenistan in the 56th minute. But it didn't last long as four minutes later, Malswamfela side-stepped two defenders before blasting it in to give India a 2-1 lead.

India U-19 head coach Colm Toal made a double substitution – Johnychand Singh coming in place of Brandon Fernandes and Prabir Das replacing Pronay Halder -- and the fresh legs sealed the game for India. In the 82nd minute, Prabir tapped in India's third goal after Holicharan Narzary had moved past a couple of defenders down the left flank. But as a late dampener for India, birthday-boy Anto Xavier was red-carded in the 86th minute.

India next play Iran on November 2 in what could be a crucial match in deciding India's fate in the qualifiers, while in today's other match Uzbekistan U-19 defeated Pakistan U-19 3-0.


India Under-19: 23-Ravi Kumar; 14-Narayan Das, 4-Bikramjit Singh, 3-Sonu, 16-Pritam Kotal; 12-Brandon Fernandes (67' 20-Johnychand Singh), 22-Anto Xavier, 9-Sehnaj Singh, 8-Pronay Halder (69' 7-Prabir Das); 11-Holicharan Narzary, 13-Malswamfela [C] (85' 24-Sunny)
Unused Substitutes: 21-Albino Giovanni Gomes, 26-Mohammad Moniruzzaman Ansari, 2-Pawan Kumar, 5-Arijeet Singh, 6-Akashdeep Singh, 10-Sumeet Passi, 15-Edwin Gosula, 17-Rajinder Kumar, 33-Tirthankar Sarkar

India Under-19 boys lands in Tehran for Qualifiers

The India Under-19 squad landed in the Iranian capital Tehran at 4.30am on early today for the AFC Under-19 Championship qualifiers which kick-off on Monday, October 31. The squad arrived from Doha, Qatar where they were based for the last 12 days.

Chief Coach Colm Toal said he was 'happy' to have arrived in Tehran. "It always helps when you come in early. Arriving early has its own advantages," Colm maintained.

The boys were greeted by rain and temperatures as low as seven degrees which came in sharp contrast to the hot desert climate in Doha.

"The Camp in Doha was pretty useful. We got to practice on excellent grounds which is very much essential prior to such an important Championship. The boys made full use of the facilities," Coal added. "We need to make use of the time in Tehran and focus on our first match," Toal quipped.

The India U-19 team even played a practice match in Doha where they beat Al Rayyan U-19 team 4-1. Brandon Fernandes scored a hattrick while Johnny Chand Singh scored the other goal.

India who have been clubbed in Group C along with hosts Iran, strong contenders Uzbekistan, dark horses Turkmenistan and archrivals Pakistan. India U-19 play their first match against Turkmenistan on October 31 and they will hope to qualify for the final round like the Under-16 boys. The boys were given a day's rest to overcome from the jet lag and will resume their practice session from Saturday.


INDIA U-19

Goalkeepers
Ravi Kumar, Albino Gomes, Mohammed Moniruzzaman Ansari

Defenders
Bikramjit Singh, Sonu, Arijeet Singh, Pawan Kumar, Akashdeep Singh, Pritam Kotal, Edwin, Narayan Das

Midfielders
Sehnaj Singh, Prabir Das, Pranoy Halder, Johnny Chand Singh, Tirthankar Sarkar, Sunny, Anto Xavier, Brandon Fernandes

Forwards
Holicharan Narzary, Sumit Passi, Rajinder Kumar, Malswamfela

Officials
Colm Joseph Toal (Head Coach), Francisco Bruto Da Costa (Assistant Coach), Syed Shabbir Pasha (Assistant Coach), Feroze Sheriff (Goalkeeping Coach), Vijayan Inian Lenin (Physio), C.M. Ranjith (Manager)


INDIA U-19 Fixtures

October 31: India U-19 vs Turkmenistan U-19
November 2: Iran U-19 vs India U-19
November 4: India U-19 vs Uzbekistan U-19
November 8: Pakistan U-19 vs India U-19

2012 AFC Challenge Cup: Three countries bid to host

Three out of the eight finalists of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup have shown interest to host the bi-annual event and India isn't amongst the nations who have bid to host the tournament. The bidding nations are the Maldives, Nepal and Palestine.

Now the AFC has requested the football associations of Maldives, Nepal, and Palestine to sign the Organising Association Agreement (OAA) and the List of Requirements (LOR) after the three expressed their interest.

The AFC has created the AFC Challenge Cup as a second-tier national team competition for developing footballing nations across the continent. The 2006 edition was held in Bangladesh and won by Tajikistan, in 2008 hosts India won the tournament, while the 2010 edition held in Sri Lanka which was won by North Korea. Also since 2008 the champions of the AFC Challenge Cup earn a place in the finals of the AFC Asian Cup, an added impetus for nations to field their best sides and win the title.

The 2012 edition will see Palestine, the Philippines, India, Turkmenistan, Maldives, Tajikistan, North Korea and Nepal in action with a place in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia up for grabs.

The host for the 2012 edition is likely to be decided by the AFC Organising Committee for President's Cup and Challenge Cup during its meeting at the AFC headquarters on June 14, 2011.

AFC Challenge Cup - Qualifiers: India draw, top the group

India held Turkmenistan to a one-all draw in their last Group B qualifier for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup at the MBJP Stadium, Petaling Jaya in Malaysia. With today's draw both India and Turkmenistan finish on seven points, both have a goal difference of +5, but India scored a goal more so finish on top of the group; but both sides qualify for next years final.

As promised yesterday by Bob Houghton he made numerous changes to the starting eleven, bringing in seven new players with only Subrata Pal, Anwar, Syed Rahim Nabi and Jeje Lalpekhulua making a start from the team which faced Pakistan. Subrata led the team onto the field as captain for the first time, while for a number of youngsters it was the first-ever start for the senior national team.

The new formed Indian side needed time to settle down in a first half which both sides played cautiously with Turkmenistan having the better of the chances while Nabi had India's only real chance of the half. It remained goalless at the break.

The match heated up after the break as Turkmenistan were awarded a controversial penalty in the 50th minute. Raju Gaikwad brought down Begli Annageldiyev, but there was confusion if it was inside or outside the box with the assistant referee waving his flag immediately for a penalty with the India players protesting. It didn't help and Begli Annageldiyev himself took the spot kick and beat Subrata in goal. Again India were behind and once more the young side showed character as on the hour mark they equalised. And once more it was Jeje Lalpekhulua, who played a double pass with Joaquim Abranches before slotting home. It was the youngsters fourth goal in three matches, surely he was a key architect of India's passage to the AFC Challenge Cup finals. Towards the end both sides looked happy with the point as nothing except topping the group was at stake.

After the game a proud Bob Houghton said, "It was good tournament for us, I am very much pleased with the performance of the team. It was very nice to win the matches with youngster in the side. And today down by a goal, the boys once again showed a fighting spirit and came back in the match."


MATCH STATS

INDIA 1-1 (0-0) Turkmenistan - Goals: 0-1 Begli Annageldiyev (50', penalty), 1-1 Jeje Lalpekhulua (60')

INDIA: 1-Subrata Pal; 7-Denzil Michael Franco, 14-Raju Eknath Gaikwad, 5-Anwar, 17-Nalappan Mohanraj; 9-Joaquim Santan Abranches, 15-Jewel Shaikh Raja, 16-Shilton Sydney D'Silva, 22-Syed Rahim Nabi; 10-C.S. Sabeeth, 12-Jeje Lalpekhulua
Substitutes: 13-Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, 31-Jagroop Singh, 2-Govin Moirangthem Singh, 3-Nanjangud Shivananju Manju, 4-Rakesh Masih, 6-Baldeep Singh, 8-Nirmal Chetri, 11-Sunil Chhetri, 19-Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, 23-Steven Benedic Dias, 29-Jagpreet Singh
Not in Squad: 18-Chongtham Sushil Kumar Singh


Referee: Mohammed Nafeez Bin Abdul Wahab (Malaysia)
Asst Referees: Jakhongir Saidov (Uzbekistan), Mohammed Hanif Abdul Bin Rahman (Malaysia)
Fourth official: Viktor Serazitdinov (Uzbekistan)
Match Commissioner: Manirul Islam (Bangladesh)
Referee Assessor: Yazbeck Yazbeck (Lebanon)

AFC Challenge Cup - Qualifiers: A fight for top spot

India face Turkmenistan tomorrow in their final Group B match of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers at the MBJP Stadium, Petaling Jaya in Malaysia. Both sides have won their two opening matches and have ensured passage to next years finals, but this match will be about who will top the group.

It has a been a good tournament for India so far. After a fluent 3-0 win against Chinese Taipei they were made to work hard by Pakistan in their 3-1 victory and the new Team India has been up to the task with especially young Jeje Lalpekhulua catching a lot of the attention scoring three goals in his first two internationals.

But Turkmenistan will be of a different calibre. Central Asian sides have a touch of Russian flair in their game and are physically strong, so this will be a different test for our boys. In the tournament so far Turkmenistan beat Pakistan 3-0 and Chinese Taipei 2-0.

India in the evening today held a training session at the University grounds in Kuala Lumpur to prepare for the game. Coach Bob Houghton is set to give some of his bench players a start in tomorrow's game. Bob confirmed that Subrata Pal, Anwar and Jeje Lalpekhulua will start while the other eight starting players from last game will be benched, so it will be a chance for the other players to show themselves in a match against a tough opponent.

Coming to speak about the last game Bob Houghton said, "It's good to have already qualified and it was always high on our agenda. We came here with the motive to mark a place in the final round."

"It does gives us the opportunity to play the younger boys tomorrow, which surely is exciting as they will probably be playing the best team of the three we played. It will be a real test for the young ones and it's always important to give them the right exposure and that’s why we brought them here. Also the fact that senior team has already won the two games allow us to make these changes tomorrow," he added.

Jeje came in for special praise from Bob Houghton, "We should congratulate Jeje for his performance here for scoring three goals in two matches on his debut for the National team. It's indeed a remarkable performance and to add to this, his four goals he scored in the last round match of the I-League, it makes seven goals in three games, which shows his superb goal scoring form."

AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers: Chhetri to lead India!

Bob Houghton has named Sunil Chhetri as India's new captain for the qualifiers of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup to be played next week in Kuala Lumpur. In the Malaysian capital India will face Chinese Taipei (March 21), Pakistan (March 23) and Turkmenistan (March 25) in the Group B qualifiers. The top two teams from the group would move into the AFC Challenge Cup proper.

Senior players are being rested by Bob Houghton, so players like Sunil Chhetri, Gouramnagi Singh, Subrata Pal and Steven Dias will have to prove that they are ready to carry the Indian national team. Bob Houghton will also get a chance to test youngsters with talented players like Raju Gaekwad and Jeje Lalpekhulua set for their first international start tomorrow and they will have to prove that they are ready for senior competition.

For India the qualifiers are crucial as they would have to be amongst the top two teams to qualify for the final round, which India could host next year and then try to qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup to be played in Australia.


INDIA

Goalkeepers
Subroto Pal (Pune FC), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Indian Arrows), Jagroop Singh (Indian Arrows)

Defenders
Anwar (Mohun Bagan AC), Nirmal Chetri (East Bengal Club), Denzil Franco (Churchill Brothers SC), Raju Gaekwad (Indian Arrows), N.S. Manju (United Sikkim FC), Nalappan Mohanraj (Mohun Bagan AC), Syed Rahim Nabi (East Bengal Club), Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh (Churchill Brothers SC), Govin Moirangthem Singh (Salgaocar SC)

Midfielders
Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC), Shilton D'Silva (Indian Arrows), Steven Benedic Dias (Churchill Brothers SC), Rakesh Masih (Mohun Bagan AC), Jewel Sheikh Raja (Indian Arrows), Baldeep Singh (Salgaocar SC), Jagpreet Singh (JCT)

Forwards
Sunil Chhetri (Chirag United SC, Captain), Jeje Lalpekhulua (Indian Arrows), C.S. Sabeeth (Viva Kerala), Sushil Kumar Singh (East Bengal Club)

Officials
Chief Coach: Robert Douglas Houghton; Assistant Coach: Savio Medeira; Goalkeeping Coach: Marcos Anthony Pacheco; Physical Trainer: Suresh Babu Kavuluri; Doctor: Dr. Kiran Kumar Kulkarni; Physiotherapist: Gigy George; Masseur: Liyaqat Ali; Media Officer: Brij Mohan Mehta; Manager: Mandhar Tamhane