India go down yet again in AFC U-19 qualifiers

India suffered its second defeat on trot as they squandered a 1-0 lead to go down 1-3 against Saudi Arabia in a Group C encounter of the AFC Under-19 Championship qualifiers at Arbil, Iraq.

India opened its campain with a 0-5 thrashing against Iraq and the loss last evening meant they are yet to put points in the tally.

It was an even contest in the opening stages until India opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Shilton D'Silva headed home a R Rozanma cross into the net. The goal gave Colin Toal's boys confidence but they couldn't cash in on the advantage before half-time.

Saudi Arabia equalised ten minutes into the second session with an own goal from Deepak Devrani whose clearance went past India keeper Gurpreet Sandu. The Indian boys were putting up a good fight and were very much in the game until they were reduced to ten men when Vishal Kumar was shown his second yellow card in the 66th minute. Saudi made the most of their numerical advantage and started dominating game. They won a number of corners but the Indian team was doing well to hold on and even had a few half chances of their own. However, one minute from the end Abdullah Ali S Almohammed gave Saudi the lead. Stunned by the late goal, India conceded one more in injury time when Muhannad Hamed J Alfarsi scored the third. India have now lost both their games and next face Oman on Tuesday.

-- (UNI) -- 08SPD8.xml

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