AFC U16 Cup 2016 Q: India thrashes Bahrain as Blue Cubs Taste Blood

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India U16 team at AFC U16 2016 Qualifiers
India U16 team at AFC U16 Championship 2016 Qualifiers

FIFA U17 World Cup 2017 bound India U16 team opened their AFC U16 Championship 2016 Qualifiers campaign in Iran is style, beating West Asian giants Bahrain 5-0. This is a surprise role reversal for Indian football fans as normally they used to be on the receiving end of a football massacre.

The Blue Cubs started with intent early on, winning corner right in the 7th minute when Aman’s attempt was pushed out. A couple of minutes later, Komal’s powerful shot rattled the woodwork.

The goal came for India as early as in the 15th minute when a corner kick found the feet of defender Gaston who blasted it into the top corner.

Just 4 minutes later Aman deceived the Bahrain goalkeeper by chipping the ball over him, making it 2-0 for India. India kept pressing upfront which resulted ins successive corners in the 25th minute.

Just a couple of minutes later, India went ahead by 3-0 as Bahrain players stood in horror. Boris’s dribbling skill with the ball mesmerized everyone as the ball rolled into the net.

India U16 kept pushing for another goal but heroics of the goalkeeper kept denying them another goal and at the lemon break India were leading comfortably 3-0.

India started the second half where it had left. The 4th goal came in the 49th minute of the game. Aniket’s grounder found Aman who slotted it past the goalkeeper.

Bahrain. in their desperation, started getting physical and finally had to pay the penalty in the 65th minute when Jasim was Red-Carded for foul done on Sarif. Down to 10 men and down 4-0, Bahrain’s life was made worse when in the 77th minute India made it 5-0. Brilliant one touch game opened up the Bahrain defence as Suresh put his name on the scorecard.

The team will be playing AFC U16 Qualifiers2016 in India and have already qualified as the hosts. They are also to play FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, also to be held in India. The U16 side trained heavily in Germany, playing top German sides. They had won 8 matches, lost 4 and drawn 2 games in Germany.

India will play Iran next in the AFC u16 2016 Qualifiers on 18th September. The match kicks off at 5 PM IST in Tabriz, Iran

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