Iraq thrash India 5-0 in AFC Cup U-19 qualifiers

New Delhi, Nov 6 : India began its AFC U-19 Championship qualifying campaign with a 0-5 defeat against hosts Iraq in a Group 'C' encounter at the Francouse Hareeri stadium in Arbil.

For the home team, Amhed Waleed Hussain and Mustafa Jalal scored two goals, while substitute Muhaimen found the net once in the one-sided affair last evening.

Iraq took the lead as early as the tenth minute when Amjed Waleed Hussein who converted a cross from the right flank. India could have equalised shortly but Manandeep failed direct his header goalwards.

The hosts were threatening to get the second and did just that in the 34th minute when a mistake from Indian custodian Gurpreet Sandhu presented an easy chance to Mustafa Jouda Abdullah Al-Shammari.

Trailing by two goals, India needed a strong second half performance to come back in the game but all such hopes were quashed by Waleed Hussien who slotted the ball past Gurpreet with a fine left footed finish.

Iraq added two more goals in the last fifteen minutes through Mohaimen Saleem Mallakh and Mohamed Saad Abdullah.

For India, substitute Malswamfela missed a few good chances in the second half.

India next plays Saudi Arabia, who defeated Afghanistan 5-1 in their opening encounter, tomorrow.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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