India Ransack Brunei 13-0 In AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers Opener

India U17 men's team started ir AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers Group D campaign in style with a 13-0 beatdown of Brunei Darussalam at Chonburi Stium on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. India’s assault started right from first whistle as Blue Colts dominated ball and constantly pressured an inexperienced Brunei in right areas. y took le in eighth minute, Vishal Yav entering box from right and slotting it in to give India a deserved le.

goal h been coming, and in truth, India could have been out of sight in first 10. It didn’t matter, though, because soon eugh, chances and goals flew unabated.

In 24th minute, Md Arbash doubled le, winning and n successfully converting a penalty. Five minutes later, Arbash turned provider when Brunei failed to deal with his corner at near post. Vishal Yav duly put away loose ball into net to give India a three-goal cushion. 

Arbash’s playmaking continued to trouble Brunei and in 38th minute, he drove in from left to cut ball for Bharat Lairenjam. Lairenjam h plenty of time to pick his slot and he duly did to extend India’s alrey formidable le. Mohammed Kaif put cherry on top of a five-star first half with a heer from a corner in 42nd minute. India led 5-0 at break. 

Yav completed his hat trick six minutes into second half, picking up a through ball, rounding goalkeeper and finishing smoothly. With game wrapped up, coach Ishfaq Ahmed rang in changes with an eye to give his bench players some experience on pitch. 

Just after hour mark captain Ngamgouhou Mate capitalised on some sloppy defending to score India's seventh goal. A bly cleared free kick offered Mate a chance from close range to put ball in net. Substitute Manbhakupar Malngiang got a goal of his own in 74th minute, picking up a through ball, rounding goalkeeper, and finishing with ease.

Hemneichung Lunkim, who h been among most prolific players for India — without getting on scoresheet — finally got his reward in 82nd minute. forward picked up a loose ball inside box, and on turn shot it with his weaker foot, into goal. A few minutes later, India got into double digits via Azlaan Shah's goal from Rishi Singh's assist. 

With Brunei's players visibly fing and fatigued, India slotted two more goals in final minutes of game, Mahm Sami and Sumit Sharma ding goals to make it a clean dozen. Just when it seemed game was done, came pick of bunch. In injury time, Usham Thoungamba Singh picked up ball outside box before letting loose from long range. ball slotted perfectly into corner to give India a 13th goal from an utterly dominant performance.

India U17: Suraj Singh Aheibam (GK), Karish Soram, Thoungamba Singh, Mohammed Kaif, Ngamgouhou Mate (C), Sumit Sharma, Md Arbash (Azlaan Shah 78'), Levis Zangminlun (Manbhakupar Malngiang 58'), Vishal Yav (Mahm Sami 58'), Hemneichung Lunkim (Ahongshangbam Samson 84'), Bharat Lairenjam (Ningthoukhongjam Rishi Singh 58').