AFC U-19 Championships Qualifiers | India suffer 0-4 defeat against Saudi Arabia, bow out

India U-19 football team suffered a 0-4 defeat against Saudi Arabia in their second match of the 2020 AFC U-19 Championships qualifier at the Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium on Friday in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. This defeat means India have bowed out of the race for the 2020 AFC U-19 Championships qualification.

The hosts opened the scoring as early as the second minute as forward Mohammad Khalil Marran latched on to a loose ball and put it past Indian goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. Midfielder Ahmad Albassas made it 2-0 for Saudi Arabia in the 10th minute as the midfielder got to the end of a cross from the left flank by Hazzaa Alghamdi.

As India head coach Floyd Pinto's side pushed forward to reduce the deficit, Albassas netted his second of the game in the 18th minute. He completed a quick-fire hat-trick in the 28th minute, once again converting a low cross from the left flank as Saudi Arabia broke forward in numbers on the counter-attack. 

India’s 18-year-old winger Ninthoinganba Meetei posed problems for the hosts throughout the first half with his pace and guile, earning a number of free-kicks from attacking positions. He came closest to scoring two minutes before the half-time break but his powerful shot went just wide of the post.

India made a change at the break with Rocky Shabong making way for Manvir Singh. Manvir almost made an instant impact as he raced towards the by-line down the right and put in a cross that just missed Vikram Partap on the far post just 2 minutes after the restart.  In their final group-stage match, which has been rendered inconsequential, India will face Afghanistan on Sunday.