AFC U-16 Championship: India hold Saudi Arabia to draw with last-minute goal

Margao: Captain Suresh Singh Wangjam struck in the injury time to help India come from behind and hold Saudi Arabia to a 3-3 draw in a Group A match of the AFC U-16 football championships, in Margao on Sunday. India enjoyed a 2-1 lead in the first half through strikes from Aniket Anil Jadhav (fifth minute) and Aman Chetri (23rd). Saudi Arabia scored through Aldhuwayhi Abdulaziz in the 34th minute before substiute Albrikan Feras Tariq N found the net twice in quick succession in the 82nd and 83rd to put his team up. [caption id=“attachment_3009810” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  India managed to open their account in the ongoing AFC U-16 Championship with the draw. Image courtesy: AFC via Twitter.[/caption] But the home team did not lose heart, and tried their best to find the equaliser and was awarded a penalty in the injury time which Suresh Singh Wangjam scored to split points. There was more drama before the end of the final whistle as Saudi Arabia keeper Abdulaziz Almalki was red-carded for abusing the referee. Both the teams opened their account from Sunday’s draw and kept their chances alive for a place in the next round. Saudi Arabia play UAE on 21 September while India face Iran the same day. Both the teams played attacking game as they played quick shorts passes and made inroads into each other’s citadel. India, who looked more dominating in the first half, kept probing from the left and met early success in the fifth minute. Komal Thatal, who got the ball on the left, raced into the box and from the sidline relayed the ball to Aniket Anil Jadhav who first controlled the ball and finding the net with an angular left footer. The goal acted as a tonic and the home team mounted pressure and once again found the net in a similar fashion in the 23rd minute. Boris Singh Thangjam made a run down on the left and released the ball into the box for Aman Chetri who made no mistake in finding the net with a low shot. Saudi Arabia however, crawled back slowly and mounted pressure from the flanks and succeeded in reducing the margin in the 34th minute. Dhari Alanazi from the left got the back of rival defender and sent a high cross into the box, which India’s defence failed to clear and Aldhuwayhi Abdulaziz headed in. Two-time champions Saudi Arabia applied tremendous pressure in the last ten minutes before the break to find the equaliser and won a penalty but Mali’s kick was saved by the Indian goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moiranghtem. Saudi Arabia, who showed urgency, continued to mount pressure as they kept India on the back foot for most part of the second half but the home team’s defence led by custodian Dheeraj did well to keep the rivals at bay. Saudi’s Mali had a glorious chance to find the equaliser but he drove the ball away from close. Saudi Arabia maintained the pressure and scored two quick goals through Albrikan Feras Tariq N in the 82nd and 83rd to put his team up. But the home team made a counter attack and was awarded a penalty which Suresh Wangjam scored to the joy of the fans.