The Indian National Men’s U-23 team defeated Oman 2-1 in the Qualifiers of the Asian Cup. A spirited display by the young guns took the team past the finishing line to secure the hard-earned win. It was an outstanding overall performance from the youngsters who gave everything they had.
Oman gave a good performance as well as they kept knocking the door throughout the game. Apart from the lapse of concentration that led to the 2 goals, they gave the Blue Tiger a tough fight. Every set-piece magically became an opportunity as the Indian defence stood strong until the last minute.
India 2-1 Oman: The Game
The game started out in India’s favour as Oman conceded an early penalty. Vikram Pratap Singh drove into the box which sent Oman into a panic. As he found his way to the 6-yard box, he was nudged from behind sending his own. The referee did not think twice and spotted the penalty spot amid a protest from Oman.
Rahim Ali kept his composure as he slotted a low, hard ball past the keeper, who went the right way. A perfect start for the men in blue. From then on, Oman kept bombing in crosses, all of which made the Indian defence work. Goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangnthem was particularly alert all along as he made a good number of saves.
The second goal came soon enough as Rahim Ali turned provider this time. He confused his marker and diverted the attention of the defence before laying it off for a rushing Vikram Pratap Singh. The exciting winger made no mistake as he bundled the ball into the far side to double the advantage.
Oman kept knocking as finally breached the Indian defence in the final minutes of the game. Abdullah skillfully received the ball before making his way around 3 defenders. He did not go too ambitious as he squared the ball to an unmarked Waleed who waited for the ball before tapping it past Dheeraj.
Follow us on Twitter to get the latest football news and updates.
