U-15 Indian Football Team rout Maldives 9-0 in SAFF Championships

India started their campaign with a brilliant victory over their South Asian rivals and prepared well for their next game against Nepal.

The Indian U-15 National Team blasted nine goals past a hapless Maldives in the opening match of the SAFF U-15 Championship in a 9-0 win at the ANFA Complex in Kathmandu, Nepal on Saturday (August 19, 2017).

Although the Colts attacked from the whistle, the breakthrough came in the 20th minute after Bekey’s cross was thumped home by Ravi giving the Indian Colts a solitary goal advantage.

Watch the full game here: SAFF U-15 Championship 2017 Replay: India 9-0 Maldives

Three minutes later, during a routine corner kick scenario, the Maldivian defense line bundled the ball into their own net to double India’s advantage. Ibrahim Anoof scored the own goal. Ravi connected to a Samir cross from the flanks and scored to make it 3-0 for India in the 26th minute. Thoiba headed home in the 41st minute from a corner kick as the Indian Colts led 4-0 at the halfway point.

Ravi completed his hat-trick in the 48th minute to put the result to bed as the Indian Colts led 5-0.

India 9-0 Maldives

Goals by Ricky, Vikram and Lalrokima in the 57th, 70th and 80th minute added gloss to the scoreline while a Maldivian own goal late in the game added to the opponents misery as the full-time scoreline read 9-0 in India’s favor. The Indian Colts next face hosts Nepal on August 23.

Khel Now rates Bekey and Vikram very highly and believes that the two players can go very far in their footballing careers. 

The coach, prior to the game had mentioned that he would miss his important player in the tournament. Rohit Dhanu, who was the captain of the team, is in the U17 squad that will take part in FIFA U17 World Cup 2017.

India National U-15 Team coach Bibiano Fernandes is glad that his boys overpowered Maldives U15.

Despite huge margin victory, he is not carried away as he says there are rooms for improvement which they need to work on it before their next match.

In the post match press meet on Saturday, coach Fernandes said,"I am happy that we won with such a margin. Still, there are some areas we need to improve. You might not see the weakness in today's game, but I am the coach of the team and I know my boys."

He revealed about their target of winning AFC U16 Championship 2018 Qualifiers.

Speaking about their next match against hosts Nepal, he stated,"We have three days rest for our next game against Nepal. We will work on our weakness. Nepal is a strong opponent. They have advantage of home crowd. We will give our best in the game. Our target is to win the AFC U16 Championship Qualifiers."

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India will meet Nepal in their final group satge match on August 23.

India First XI: Lalbiakhlua Jongte(GK); Moirangthem Thoiba Singh, Harpreet Singh, Gurkirat Singh, Samir Kerketta; Ravi Bahadur Rana, Lalchhanhima Sailo, Givson Singh, Ricky John Shabong; Vikram Pratap Singh(C), Bekey Oram.