India U-23s share spoils with Malaysia U-23s in second international friendly

Thoiba Singh scored the equalizer for India U-23.

The India U-23 Men’s National Team drew 1-1 with the hosts Malaysia U-23 team in their second friendly match at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, March 25, 2024. Both goals came in the second half.

With this, the India U-23 side ended their FIFA Window two-match friendly tour of Malaysia. In the first match last week, the Blue Colts lost 1-2 at the same venue.

On Monday night, Malaysia U-23 took the lead in the 48th minute off an own goal by Abhishek Suryavanshi. India U-23 came back to restore parity in the 62nd minute through M Thoiba Singh.

India’s head coach, Naushad Moosa, himself a former India defender, made changes from the starting eleven that played in the first friendly tie. He said, “It was important to give equal opportunities to all the players. It helped us to know the potential of the players at the international level.”

The coach said, “All the players were fit and had a positive mindset. The four-day camp we had in Delhi was really good and all the players adapted to the style we wanted to play.”

India U23: Vishal Yadav (Arsh Anwer Shaikh 78’), M Thoiba Singh, Sandip Mandi, Narender (C), Robin Yadav, Abhishek Dhananjay Suryavanshi, C Shivaldo Singh (Mark Zothanpuia 81’), Sivasakthi Narayanan (Vishnu Puthiya Valappil 89’), Ninthoinganba Meetei, Abdul Rabeeh Anjukandan (Mohammed Aimen 76’), Parthib Sundar Gogoi (Mohammed Sanan Kundoyi 71’).

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