AFC U-16 Championship: India enter quarter-finals after 16 long years

The India U-16 football team played out a goalless draw against hosts Indonesia to enter the quarter-finals of the AFC U-16 Championships in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

India finished with five points from three matches, their highest ever, overtaking the highest points of four, which came in 2002. It was also for the first time in 16 years that India will be playing in the quarter-finals of a major tournament. The draw also meant that India finished on second after the second.

“We have worked really hard to get where we are and we are very happy with our performances in the group stages. The boys have given their 100 percent on the field and we played according to our plan,” head coach Bibiano Fernandes told reporters later.

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Indonesia though had the most ball possession with them but were stopped by the resolute Indian defence, which kept them on bay. India though had the opportunity of scoring in the sixth minute, when a counter-attack from Ridge De’Mello saw the winger set up skipper Vikram Pratap with a beautiful cross into the box.

But his header sailed inches wide. Then on the 20^th minute, India found another outlet but Ricky Shabong’s shot from inside the box deflected away for a corner. Indonesia kept plenty of the ball but created very little, with their first proper chance coming in the 27^th minute when Niraj Kumar was forced into a close-range save.

The half-finished on goalless. Resuming from the break, India attempted to go for the kill but were denied twice from scoring. First, in the 63^rd minute, De’Mello had hot from a clear chance that was somehow cleared away. Then in the 72^nd minute, Ricky faltered failing to tap-in from close range.

Image Source: DNA India