Tehran: The external forces didn’t favour India. The black clouds overhead delivered at regular intervals all throughout the day and the snow visited the Alborz Mountain Peaks for the fifth consecutive day. Prior to the kick-off, it was four degrees at the Takhti Stadium and as the match progressed, the mercury dripped further.
On the field nevertheless, the disparity in the FIFA rankings didn’t seem that glaring. Down by an early goal, India’s U-19 boys did go down to Iran 0-3 but not before some brave display.
In fact, till the 67th minute when Iran scored their second goal off a penalty, India were playing all over the field. They began the second half with more purpose and the equaliser seemed inevitable.
The co-ordination between the four medios– Prabir Das, Sehnaj Singh, Pronoy Halder and Brandon Fernandes were frustrating the Iranians and with Holicharan Narzary and Malswamfela cutting in, there was more than a match on hands.
But much against the run of play, Alireza Jahan converted from the spot in the 67th minute; a penalty which Head Coach Colm Toal found hard to digest. “It was a harsh penalty and it killed the match for us. We were very much in the match till then,” he said at the post-match PC.
Alireza scored another in the 81st minute to make it 3-0.
Earlier, the first goal came even before anyone had settled down. Ahmad Abdollahzadeh curled in his corner into the net from the left. It wasn’t the start India wanted.
But they came back strongly. Preferring to depend on counters, the Indians stretched it to the flanks. Brandon and striker Holicharan got past Mohammad Heidari on the left on three occasions and entered the box but Iranian centre-back Vahid ensured all stayed safe for Iran.
India next play Uzbekistan U-19 on November 4.
In another match, Turkmenistan U-19 defeated Pakistan U-19 2-1.
India U-19: Ravi Kumar; Narayan Das, Bikramjit Singh, Sonu, Pritam Kotal; Prabir Das (Sumit Passi – 82nd), Sehnaj Singh (Johnnychand Singh – 74th), Pronay Halder, Brandon Fernandes (Sunny Singh – 70th); Holicharan Narzary, Malswamfela.
By Nilanjan Datta