India register second consecutive win by defeating Turkmenistan in Under-17 Asian Cup qualifiers

By Sandy Verma On Oct 26, 2024

ChonburiChonburi: India Under-17 men's team won their second consecutive game in Group D of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2025 qualifiers, defeating Turkmenistan 1-0 at the Chonburi Stadium on Friday. The only goal scored by Rishi Singh came at the end of half time. India now have six points from two matches and will play hosts Thailand in their final group match on Sunday. India picked up where they left off in their 13-0 win over Brunei Darussalam, with confidence coursing through their veins and good form evident in their play. Mohammad Kaif took the first shot in the sixth minute, a long-range effort which missed the target. The forward opened up his body and tried to fire a shot into the far corner, but it went harmlessly wide.

Turkmenistan packed a defensive third, so India were forced to take shots from distance or hope for pinging crosses into the box and catching the heads of onrushing forwards. In the 35th minute, this strategy appeared to be paying off when the goalkeeper blocked Jangminlun's long-range effort into the path of Lunkim. The forward converted it correctly but was declared offside.

India finally scored in the 44th minute and it was very similar to the many chances they missed in the first half. This time, Lunkim's long-range effort heralded the decline. The power of the shot was so much that the goalkeeper could do nothing except stop it in the path of the advancing Rishi Singh. The midfielder hit a powerful and accurate shot on his first attempt, giving the Blue Colts the lead at the break.

Turkmenistan increased the tempo in the second half and were really aggressive in the opening minutes of the half. In the 52nd minute, Indian goalkeeper Suraj Singh was forced to make an easy save from Muhammadali Nasyrov's shot. In the 69th minute, India had the ball in the net for the third time, but it was again ruled out for offside. Lunkim and Arbash together sent the ball into the corner. Vishal Yadav was declared offside by the assistant referee because he interfered in play from an offside position after Arbash hit the ball.

India were strong throughout the game and kept their opponents at arm's length, threatening a second goal, although they never showed composure in the final third. Azlan Shah and Manbhupar Malangiang missed some good chances to extend the lead. (ANI)