A combating India went down by a solitary aim to four-time champions Iran of their second group match on the AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers on Friday.
After holding their formidable rivals at bay for many a part of the match, the Indians lastly conceded a aim within the 88th minute when Yousef Mazraeh managed to beat goalkeeper Priyansh Dubey within the Group G match.
It was a creditable present by the Blue Colts towards a staff thought-about conventional powers of Asian soccer.
With three factors from two matches, India U20 facet nonetheless saved alive their hopes of ending second within the group and transferring into the event correct.
The highest groups of the ten teams, together with the 5 finest second-place finishers, will qualify for the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 in China.
India, presently second within the group with a 4-2 aim distinction, will play hosts Laos of their ultimate match on Sunday. Laos misplaced 0-8 to Iran of their first match.
Iran, with six factors, stay on the prime of the group.
It was roughly an evenly contested first half during which the Indians did job towards their expert rivals.
The Indians broke into the Iranian territory on multiple event. The Iranians started aggressively and earned their first nook kick within the fifth minute, although it was tackled effectively by the Indian defenders.
India did not stay confined to their very own half. As an alternative, they probed the Iran defence.
Within the eleventh minute, Kelvin Singh Taorem and Manglenthang Kipgen performed passes earlier than releasing it for Gwgwmsar Goyary, who was, nonetheless, shortly tackled by a defender.
It wasn’t straightforward for Iran to interrupt by the Indian defence and needed to wait until the thirty eighth minute earlier than they’d their first actual probability.
The Indian aim was positively fortunate to not fall this time, as striker Kasra Taheri had a transparent sight of the aim after receiving a ball from the suitable. His header, nonetheless, went over the bar a lot to the reduction of India.
The Indians remained constructive within the second half and performed numerous passes to maintain Iran busy in their very own space. Between 54th and sixtieth minutes, India made a collection of assaults. On one event, India felt a penalty ought to have been awarded to them for a handball offence, however the Uzbekistan referee had different concepts.
India’s finest alternative on this interval got here on the stroke of the hour when a Kelvin Singh go discovered Korou Singh Thingujam behind the defence. However Korou’s shot missed the goal by a whisker.
As Iran discovered themselves more and more annoyed in quest of a aim, they started exerting as a lot strain as potential. They not solely received repeated corners but in addition had a strive on the aim, which pressured the Indian goalkeeper Priyansh to make a diving save.
Iran, nonetheless, could not be saved quiet past the 88th minute. The Indian resilience was lastly damaged when substitute Yousef Mazraeh discovered the underside nook of the web from contained in the field.
Revealed – September 28, 2024 04:40 am IST
