India suffer 3-0 defeat against Uzbekistan in U-17 Friendly

India
ran
out
2-0
victors
on
Sunday
in
the
first
of
two
friendly
matches
as
part
of
the
preparations
for
the
AFC
U-17
Asian
Cup
to
be
held
in
Thailand
in
the
summer.

However,
the
Blue
Colts
were
unable
to
repeat
their
brilliant
performance
today,
conceding
three
unanswered
goals
against
a
resurrected
Uzbek
side.

Indian
head
coach
Bibiano
Fernandes
made
a
solitary
change
from
the
first
match,
with
Balkaran
Singh
replacing
Malemngamba
Singh
Thokchom
at
left-back.
Looking
to
bounce
back
from
Sunday’s
defeat,
Uzbekistan
made
four
changes
as
Mukhtorov,
Yokubov,
Abraev
and
Urmonjonov
all
came
in.
The
latter
two
also
wrote
their
name
on
the
scoresheet.

The
visitors’ quick
passing
put
India
under
pressure
early
on.
A
mistake
from
centre-back
Surajkumar
Singh
Ngangbam
allowed
Uzbek
captain
Amirbek
Saidov
to
shoot
from
point-blank
range,
but
Indian
goalkeeper
Sahil
made
himself
big
and
thwarted
the
attempt.
The
Blue
Colts
subsequently
launched
a
counter-attack
with
Lalpekhlua
bombing
down
the
left
flank
before
his
intended
cutback
for
Korou
Singh
Thingujam
was
well-intercepted
by
Bekhuruz
Shukurullaev.

Lalpekhlua,
who
found
the
net
on
Sunday,
was
the
focal
point
of
India’s
attack
in
the
first
half.
Exploiting
a
gap
in
the
visitors’
backline,
he
smartly
picked
out
an
unmarked
Ricky
Meetei
Haobam
inside
the
box.
However,
the
right-back’s
first-time
shot
was
rather
weak
and
was
easily
gathered
by
Asilbek
Numonov.

The
second
half
completely
belonged
to
Uzbekistan
as
the
hosts
failed
to
find
any
rhythm.
Jamoliddin
Rakhmatullaev’s
side
opened
the
scoring
nine
minutes
into
the
second
half
when
Oybek
Urmonjonov
received
a
pass
from
Kuvonchbek
Abraev
on
the
edge
of
the
box,
and
rifled
it
past
Sahil
with
his
left
foot.

India
were
gifted
a
golden
opportunity
to
equalise
in
the
65th
minute
but
couldn’t
make
the
most
of
it.
After
intercepting
a
poor
goal-kick
from
Numonov
just
outside
the
box,
Vanlalpeka
Guite
raced
clean
through
on
goal
but
drove
it
wide
of
the
far
post.
That
glaring
miss
proved
costly
as
Uzbekistan
doubled
their
lead
two
minutes
later,
putting
the
game
out
of
India’s
reach.

The
protagonists
of
the
first
goal,
Urmonjonov
and
Abraev,
combined
again
as
the
former
picked
out
the
latter
with
a
lofted
ball
inside
the
area.
Abraev
then
took
a
touch
before
drilling
a
low
shot
past
Sahil,
who
could’ve
done
better
at
his
near
post.

In
the
72nd
minute,
midfielder
Danny
Meitei
found
space
25
yards
from
goal
and
unleashed
a
powerful
shot
which
went
just
inches
wide
of
the
post,
summing
up
a
frustrating
night
for
the
Blue
Colts.
Four
minutes
later,
Uzbek
substitute
Abdulkhamid
Turgunboev
sealed
the
victory
for
the
visitors
with
a
simple
tap-in
on
the
rebound
after
Sahil
had
made
a
good
save
to
deny
Saidov.

India
U-17
XI:
Sahil,
Ricky
Meetei
Haobam,
Surajkumar
Singh
Ngangbam,
Balkaran
Singh
(Mukul
Panwar
78′),
Manjot
Singh,
Vanlalpeka
Guite,
Danny
Meitei
Laishram
(Prachit
Gaonkar
83′),
Korou
Singh
Thingujam,
Thanglalsoun
Gangte
(Shashwat
Panwar
61′),
Lalpekhlua
(Phoenix
Oinam
78′),
Ashish
(Gurnaj
Singh
Grewal
61′).