India edges Nepal with superior play, but being on the scoresheet just once. Was denied by the woodwork on multiple occasions.
India edges Nepal : Match review
India overshadowed Nepal 1-0 on Wednesday at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan. They have guaranteed top spot in group A of the SAFF U-16 Championship and secure a place in the semis.
The only goal that separated the blue colts from Nepal in the first 45 minutes was a dominant effort in which Mohammed Abarsh netted a goal
While Nepal had longer stretches of possession comparatively in the middle of the pitch, the Blue Colts did attempt to break possession. They mostly used attacks through right winger Vishal Yadav.
Usham Singh, who scored for India against Bangladesh in the previous games, missed a golden chance to give his team the lead. Inside the opening 15 minutes he raced onto a pass from the right inside the Nepali penalty box. He had to work double shifts to contain Nepal’s skipper, Subash Bam, who was a persistent threat down the left.
Three minutes after the half hour mark, Yadav scampered in from the right wing and provided a cutback to Md. Abrash, who slammed it in at the near post, giving India their lead.
Vishal jotted to the penalty box and faced a strong challenge. Indians looked confused when the refree blew the whistle again. As they believed it was a penalty but the ref said the ball had crossed the line
In the 86th minute, Rishi Singh hit the ball over the crossbar, failing to extend the lead. Nepal’s skipper had two amazing opportunities to equalize. However they encountered a block. the latter stages of the match evened out as India emerged victorious.
