AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: India U-16 continued their stellar winning run in the Middle East with a 1-0 win over Al Sadd today (Monday, February 5, 2018) in Doha, Qatar. Rohit Danu’s redeeming strike in the 88th minute after he had missed a penalty earlier securing India’s 6th win on the trot on their exposure tour.

Both teams approached the first half in a cautious manner with no real opportunity materialising for either team in first 30 minutes. India dominated possession in the middle of the park but Al-Sadd kept a strong resistance as the Colts found it difficult to break through.

A penalty in the 42nd minute seemed to be deadlock breaker between the teams but Rohit Danu’s shot was saved by the opposition goalie to maintain parity. The subsequent corner had Ahammed rising tall but his header missed by a whisker as the teams headed 0-0 at half-time.

India were more attacking in the second half as the boys drove forward in numbers. Givson’s shot was stopped by the keeper in the 52nd minute while Lalrokima’s strike was ruled offside a minute later.

Lalrokima was taken off with Vikram being brought on and it almost immediately paid dividends as his shot was blocked by out in the 62nd minute. A flurry of attacks saw the trio of Danu-Vikram-Bekey bombarding the goal but they faced only disappointment as saw their efforts going off-target.

Finally, the elusive goal and eventual match winning goal arrived when Rohit Danu’s powerful shot went past the keeper to make it 1-0 for India. The young lad’s constant runs into the box culminating into the goal which ensured the Colts 6th win on the trot on their exposure tour.

India U-16: Jongte (GK), Samir, Harpreet Singh, Ahammed, Gurkirat, Ricky, Ridge (Harpreet), Givson, Bekey, Lalrokima (Vikram 60'), Rohit Danu