The Blue Colts finished with six points from their three matches, and had to wait a nerve-wracking end to the remaining Group H match between Qatar and Bahrain at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, which the hosts won 2-1, having come back from a goal down to score two injury-time goals.

Qatar finished top of the group with a perfect record (nine points from three matches), while India ended up second with six points. While the four best second-placed teams (from 11 groups) also qualified, India finished the campaign at number five amongst the group runner-ups.

Midfielder Vibin Mohanan (5’, 7’, 62’) scored a hat-trick, and Mohammed Aimen (87’, 90+7’) netted two, while Ayush Chhetri (41’) got one to his name.

India started with a bang when Muhammed Suhail weaved into the box and cut it back for Vibin, who rode a tackle, before finishing it from close range to give his side the lead in the fifth minute.

The midfielder scored again a couple of minutes later, when his attempted aerial through ball bounced over the Brunei goalkeeper’s head and looped into the net.

The Blue Colts kept plugging in at the Brunei defence, but were either thwarted or missed their chances. Moosa decided to introduce centre forward Parthib Gogoi into the fray in the 32nd minute itself, in order to give his side more of an attacking edge.

Midfielder Vibin Mohanan (5’, 7’, 62’) scored a hat-trick, and Mohammed Aimen (87’, 90+7’) netted two, while Ayush Chhetri (41’) got one to his name.

India started with a bang when Muhammed Suhail weaved into the box and cut it back for Vibin, who rode a tackle, before finishing it from close range to give his side the lead in the fifth minute.

The midfielder scored again a couple of minutes later, when his attempted aerial through ball bounced over the Brunei goalkeeper’s head and looped into the net.

The Blue Colts kept plugging in at the Brunei defence, but were either thwarted or missed their chances. Moosa decided to introduce centre forward Parthib Gogoi into the fray in the 32nd minute itself, in order to give his side more of an attacking edge.

Harijan had a couple of close chances when he made smart runs between the lines. On the first occasion, he had just the goalkeeper to beat, but was tackled by Brunei defender Irfan Abdullah, while on the second, his first-time shot off a Vibin cross went inches wide of an open goal.

Aimen was knocking at the Brunei goalmouth as well, and sent his powerful shot in the 83rd minute crashing into the upright. Harijan thought he had scored a minute later, when he tapped in an Aimen cross, but was flagged offside.

Aimen added two more superb goals to make it six, both long rangers in the dying embers of the game, to make it 6-0 for the Blue Colts.

India U23: Sahil (GK), Bikash Yumnam, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Muhammed Saheef, Vibin Mohanan, Mohammed Sanan (Parthib Gogoi 32′), Harsh Palande, Ayush Chhetri (Macarton Louis Nickson 58′), Muhammed Suhail (Mohammed Aimen 58′), Sreekuttan MS (Sahil Harijan 58′), Ricky Meetei Haobam (Soham Varshneya 76′).

Credits: AIFF Media

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Muhammed Suhail (32’) and Chingangbam Shivaldo Singh (90+5’) scored the two goals, as India registered three points in the first game of Group H.

In a frantic match that saw end-to-end action throughout the 90 minutes, the Blue Colts had an early scare in the eighth minute, when Bahrain’s Mahmood Abdulla closed down on India goalkeeper Sahil and managed to steal the ball inside the penalty area. However, with an open goal staring him in the face, he hit the side-netting.

India gained some composure after that early Bahrain miss and began to construct chances, hitting Bahrain on the break. Striker Parthib Sundar Gogoi had a couple of half-chances around the quarter-hour mark, but lacked the finishing touch.

India’s attacks left them vulnerable at the back, and Abdulla had another chance when he got in behind the defence, but missed again. At the other end, the Blue Colts thought they had scored when Ricky Meetei Haobam threaded a ball through to Mohammed Sanan, who put it past the keeper, but was soon flagged offside.

The breakthrough, for either side, was long coming, and it finally arrived in the 32nd minute through some individual brilliance from Muhammed Suhail. Played in behind on the right flank by Macarton Louis Nickson, Suhail produced some dazzling footwork to turn his marker inside-out, before planting his shot into the bottom corner.

The goal left Bahrain shellshocked for a while, though as the game neared the halfway mark, they began to find their feet once again. Captain Mubarak Binahmed played an aerial through ball to Abdulla Alsubaei, but Sahil was alert to the danger and stepped out to collect it.

If the first half seemed frantic, the second half only served to increase the pace of the game. Both sides attacked, Bahrain looking for the equaliser, while India tried to hit them on the break and gain the two-goal cushion.

Suhail was played through on the right once again, as he cut it back for Sanan, whose eventual shot was blocked. India U23 head coach Naushad Moosa soon made a flurry of changes, introducing the fresh legs of Sreekuttan MS, Shivaldo, and Mohammed Aimen into the fray with less than 30 minutes left.

The move almost immediately paid off as Ricky’s dangerous cross from the right was headed over the woodwork by Shivaldo in the 68th minute.

Bahrain had a disallowed goal of their own, when Sayed Mahmood Almoosawi’s cross was blocked, but the rebound fell kindly for him to place it into the Indian goal. Much to his dismay, he too was flagged offside.

Aimen was proving to be a thorn in the side of the Bahrain defence, especially on the counter. His 76th-minute cross from the right landed perfectly for Sanan to tap in at the far post, but Bahrain keeper Abdulla Ali Ahmed produced a point-blank save.

Ahmed kept Bahrain in the game once again a few minutes later, when Aimen produced a snapshot after some intricate interplay with Sreekuttan.

Bahrain grew desperate as the match rolled into injury time, creating more spaces for India to exploit on the counter. Ahmed stood in India’s way once again, expertly saving substitute Sahil Harijan’s shot.

However, the Bahrain goal was breached a second time with just seconds left on the clock, when Sreekuttan produced a delicious cross from the left, as a diving Shivaldo only had to ensure a good enough touch to tap it in, securing the win for the Blue Colts.

India U23: Sahil (GK), Bikash Yumnam (C), Lalrinliana Hnamte, Pramveer, Mohammed Sanan K (Sahil Harijan 80’), Parthib Gogoi (Sreekuttan MS 64’), Harsh Palande, Macarton Nickson (Chingangbam Shivaldo Singh 64’), Muhammed Suhail (Mohammed Aimen 64’), Lalremtluanga Fanai, Ricky Meetei Haobam.

– Credits: AIFF Media

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The Blue Colts, led by head coach Naushad Moosa, are aiming to qualify for the AFC U23 Asian Cup for the first time ever. In the previous six attempts, India have not made it past the Qualifiers, so Moosa and his youngsters will be gunning to create history in the Qatari capital.

Hosts Qatar and Brunei Darussalam are the other two teams in Group H. The group winners and the four best runners-up across all 11 groups will qualify for the final tournament, to be held in January 2026, in Saudi Arabia.

In the pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Moosa said, “I don’t think any team is ‘big’. It’s important to respect every opponent. As far as Bahrain are concerned, we have watched two or three of their matches to prepare. We know Qatar are a very strong side. They play tomorrow, so I’ll get some analysis from that game.”

The Blue Colts have had two separate camps in the lead-up to the Qualifiers. In June, they played two friendly games against Tajikistan (2-3 defeat) and Kygryz Republic (0-0 draw) in Tajikistan. They had a 20-day camp at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru in August. In the last week of August, the India U23s travelled to Malaysia to play two closed-door friendly games against Iraq, where they lost 1-2 and 1-3, respectively.

“All four friendlies we played were tough. But I was happy with the way the team played. We are well prepared – both mentally and physically – and I’m really looking forward to it. We are ready for the opening game against Bahrain,” said Moosa.

“Bahrain are a strong side. Watching them, I was very impressed with the way they attack, defend, and the intensity they bring. I have a lot of respect for them. It will be a competitive game, and it definitely won’t be easy for Bahrain,” he added.

Bahrain head coach Ali Abdulmajed said, “India are a strong team with quality players. We’ve watched their recent matches, and they have good elements. It will be a 50-50 match. If we manage to deal with India’s strengths, we can have the upper hand. But if India succeed in imposing their game, it will be difficult.”

After the friendlies in Malaysia, the Blue Colts directly flew to Qatar, arriving in Doha on Saturday, four days before the first match. With temperatures soaring to 43 degrees during the day, Moosa said that the team are gradually adjusting to the different weather conditions.

“It’s hot and humid, of course, but in the last few days, we’ve been trying to adapt as quickly as possible. The boys are working hard. We are working on it by training in the mornings and trying to get used to the conditions. The facilities are very good, and we’re excited to play.

“These matches are very important. U23 tournaments help in the players’ development a lot as they get minutes. We need more tournaments like this for better player progression into the senior level,” Moosa said.

Captain and centre-back Bikash Yumnam, who accompanied the coach in the press conference, said, “The first match is very important to build confidence and get points. We’ve been preparing for the last three weeks, and now the boys are ready for the Qualifiers. Every day, we give 100 per cent, and we’re really looking forward to making a mark here.”

Credits: AIFF Media

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Suhail Ahmad Bhat (33’) and Parthib Sundar Gogoi (85’) put India in the lead twice, but Ansor Khabibov (59’) and Muhammadiqbol Davlatov (90+1’) restored parity on both occasions, before Muhammadali Azizboev (90+5’) struck the winner late in injury time. India midfielder Ayush Chhetri was sent off 10 minutes into the second half.

In an even start to the game, India arguably had the clearer chance. Winger Mohammed Sanan sent in a cross towards Vinith Venkatesh at the far post. The latter’s side-footed volley, however, lacked direction.

Tajikistan had to wait till the half-hour mark for their first real chance of the game, when they earned a free-kick on their left flank. Faridun Davlatov rose above the sea of heads inside the India box to head it, bit his effort went over.

India capitalised on a counter-attacking opportunity just minutes later, and took the lead. In the 33rd minute, Macarton Louis Nickson, breaking at speed down the right, sent a pin-point low cross at the feet of an onrushing Suhail inside the Tajikistan box. The striker, with a single touch, put the ball past the goalkeeper, as the Blue Colts took the lead.

Behind by a goal, the hosts looked determined to draw level before the half-time whistle, and came close on a couple of occasions. With five minutes of regulation time left in the first half, Ansor Khabibov broke free on the left and crossed it towards Shahboz Khabibov at the near post. India goalkeeper Priyansh Dubey, however, rushed in to punch the ball out.

An injury-time free-kick from the right flank saw Faridun come close once again as he headed the ball, but a wall of Indian legs came in the way, before the ball was eventually cleared out of the area.

While the second half began much in similar fashion, with both sides feeling out the cracks and crevasses in the others’ defence, India suddenly found themselves at a disadvantage when midfielder Chhetri was shown a yellow card for the second time, for a tackle from behind.

With the man advantage, the hosts soon equalised, Khabibov turning in a cross from Muso Khakhorov in the 59th minute.

Despite the increasing number of Tajikistan attacks, India managed to take the lead a second time, when Mohammed Aimen intercepted a ball near the half-line, catching the Tajikistan defence by surprise. He played an accurate through ball to Gogoi, who expertly rounded the keeper and scored.

India’s delight was not to last too long, however, as the hosts scored from two set-pieces in injury time. Muhammadiqbol drew Tajikistan level, turning in a free-kick from Abubakar Sulaymonov, before Azizboev nodded in a corner to complete a remarkable comeback for the hosts.

India U23: Priyansh Dubey (GK), Pramveer, Dippendu Biswas (Muhammed Saheef 82’), Bikash Yumnam (C), Suhail Ahmad Bhat (Parthib Sundar Gogoi 70’), Mohammed Sanan K (Mohammed Aimen 64’), Lalrinliana Hnamte (Chingangbam Shivaldo Singh 70’), Ayush Chhetri, Macarton Louis Nickson (Lalremtluanga Fanai 64’), Tekcham Abhishek Singh, Vinith Venkatesh (Korou Singh Thingujam 70’).

FT: Tajikistan U23s (Ansor Khabibov 59’, Muhammadiqbol Davlatov 90+1’, Muhammadali Azizboev 90+5’) 3 -2 India U23s (Suhail Ahmad Bhat 33’, Parthib Sundar Gogoi 85’)

– Courtesy AIFF Media

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Drawn alongside India in Group H are Qatar, Bahrain, and Brunei Darussalam. Qatar, the highest-seeded team among the four, will host Group H, with the matches slated to be played between September 1 to 9, 2025.

A total of 44 teams were divided into 11 groups of four each. The group winners and the four best runners-up, alongside hosts Saudi Arabia, will complete the cast of 16 teams for the seventh edition of the AFC U23 Asian Cup, which will take place in January 2026.

The seedings for the draw were based on a points system derived from the teams’ final rankings across the previous three editions of the tournament. India were placed in Pot 3.

India had earlier appointed Naushad Moosa has the head coach of their U23 national team. Moosa takes charge of the U23s on June 1, when the Blue Colts assemble in Kolkata for a training camp, before flying off to Tajikistan to play two exposure friendly matches against Tajikistan (June 18) and Kyrgyz Republic (June 21).

The India U23s will utilise all the FIFA International windows to set camp and play exposure friendlies to prepare for the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers.

AFC U23 ASIAN CUP SAUDI ARABIA 2026 QUALIFIERS DRAW RESULT

Group A: Jordan (H), Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Bhutan
Group B: Japan, Kuwait, Myanmar (H), Afghanistan
Group C: Vietnam (H), Yemen, Singapore, Bangladesh
Group D: Australia, China (H), Timor-Leste, Northern Mariana Islands
Group E: Uzbekistan, Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic (H), Sri Lanka
Group F: Thailand (H), Malaysia, Lebanon, Mongolia
Group G: Iraq, Cambodia (H), Oman, Pakistan
Group H: Qatar (H), Bahrain, India, Brunei Darussalam
Group I: United Arab Emirates (H), IR Iran, Hong Kong China, Guam
Group J: Korea Republic, Indonesia (H), Laos, Macau
Group K: Tajikistan, Syria, Philippines, Nepal

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India will now play their opening fixture of the tournament against China PR on September 9, 2023, in Dalian Suoyuwan Stadium at 5:05 PM IST. 

Head Coach Clifford Miranda maintained that his team’s focus remained the same despite the change in schedule. “Nothing changes for us; we have to do the same things that we would have done with the Maldives. We still have to do our best and play to our maximum potential,” said Miranda. 

Looking at the positive side of things, Coach Miranda was pleased with getting a couple of extra days of training in China but also recognised the drawback of not getting to play a game before facing the hosts.

He said, “The good part is that we get a few days of training together as a complete team. Also, the boys will get time to rest and recover, both physically and mentally, after an extremely long and tiring journey to China.

“Playing against the Maldives would’ve provided us a good opportunity to find our rhythm before facing China and UAE. Let’s face it, among the three, the Maldives were the least dangerous opponents and would’ve been a good starting point for the team to prepare for the other two.”

Looking forward, Miranda said the main objective remains the same with the Maldives’ withdrawal. “The group probably gets a little tougher but we had to play China and UAE anyway. So our overall objective is still the same. We will give our best to try and qualify for the U23 Asian Cup.”

Also Read: ‘Love you all’ coach Igor Stimac excited on meeting the Blue Tigers after two months

Also Read: AIFF Competition Committee recommends launch of Institutional Football League from January 2024

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India, seeking their maiden qualification to the AFC U23 Asian Cup, will face Maldives (September 6), hosts China PR (September 9) and United Arab Emirates (September 12) in Group G.

The 11 group winners and four best second-placed teams will qualify for the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024, which also serves as the qualifier for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024.

India’s 23-member squad for the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 Qualifiers:

Goalkeepers: Hrithik Tiwari, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Arsh Anwer Shaikh.

Defenders: Narender Gahlot, Hormipam Ruivah, Bikash Yumnam, Sanjeev Stalin, Sumit Rathi, Jitendra Singh, Abdul Rabeeh.

Midfielders: Thoiba Singh Moirangthem, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Jiteshwor Singh Yumkhaibam, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Vibin Mohanan, Brison Deuben Fernandes, Amarjit Singh Kiyam.

Forwards: Sourav K, Parthib Gogoi, Rohit Danu, Ninthoinganba Meetei Khumanthem, Sivasakthi Narayanan (C), Suhail Ahmad Bhat.

Head Coach: Clifford Miranda

Also Read: Mumbai City FC complete signing of young winger Seilenthang Lotjem

Also Read: MI-TAS Report: A Comprehensive Player Assessment Tool by IKF

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It comes and goes in various ways. We did our homework. If the players have done their homework then there is no pressure. As coaches, it is important to do our homework. Making mistakes is acceptable but you must do your homework. Doing the homework will help you succeed.

It is understandable if the mind wanders back to classrooms and blackboards, the smell of dry chalk and the fear of punishment creeping in. But more words help. These are out of syllabus, but also extremely relevant today. Words like honesty, transparency, conversation and clarity of thought.

“I think that’s the one thing that stands out,” Blue Tigresses captain and Gokulam Kerala defender Ashalata Devi says. “A lot of coaches have this ‘my way or the highway’ philosophy. They know how they want to play and expect players to work around it. But with him, it’s always a conversation. He’ll always put things on the table and invite others to offer opinions.”

It’s the only way Andrews, the first coach to win two Hero IWL titles in succession, knows to do it. He insists that building trust, cultivating it rather than demanding it, is the only way coaches can succeed. And homework, of course.

Case in point Gokulam Kerala’s quarter-final game against Odisha FC — a blockbuster clash that was worthy of a final in itself. Andrews calls it a ‘wake-up call’, a moment that strengthened the team’s resolve and forced them to adapt to crises.

“We’d done our homework on how Odisha FC play,” Andrews says. “I’d watched every game they played in the league before our game, and even in training sessions, we’d worked on specific weaknesses they have and what channels and players we should target.”

Within minutes of kick-off though, Gokulam were chasing the game. Andrews did not panic, and if anything, only urged his team forward, bouncing on the touchline, and talking to his players constantly. It was all deliberate, a way to ensure that his players didn’t drop their heads, a way to let them know that he was not just invested in them but also trusted them to do right.

As it was, Gokulam equalised, before facing a second crisis by going down to 10 players, and then the lottery of a dreaded shootout. It is perhaps the one aspect of the game where coaches have a minimal role to play, the battle entirely mano a mano. Andrews begs to differ, albeit only on principle.

“As a coach, you have to be prepared for every scenario,” he says. “We did our homework. From the time we realised we had qualified for the knockouts, we started practising penalties in training. We analysed players’ tendencies and did the analysis that would help our goalkeepers. But yes, all credit to Beatrice (Ntiwaa Nketia).” The Ghanaian saved from Anju Tamang, Bala Devi and Pyari Xaxa, as Gokulam won 3-0 in the shootout to progress to the semis.

For a man who has now won two Hero IWLs (in addition to the multiple accolades and trophies at the age-group level for various clubs), there seem to be few ceilings yet to breach, and yet Andrews is quick to clarify that is not true. “Coaches,” he says, “have to keep learning. We always have to learn from our players.”

For Gokulam, the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2023 beckons. It will be the first time Andrews will take charge at the continental level, and he hopes the club can get results that will breach new frontiers.

“We have to start from scratch,” he says. “We can’t rest on what happened. Prepare again.” It is what he believes separates Gokulam from the trailing pack. The club has led the way for women’s football in the country and Andrews believes that their recruitment, the time spent in camp and the involvement from everyone involved within the organisation shows the passion that exists for the game.

“He’s like a parent but also like a friend,” Ashalata says, summing up the work of a man working to elevate women’s football. “He’s protective, always there to help players and advise them, and also there to take feedback, listen, and join in the fun.”

Also Read: India drawn with UAE, Maldives and China in AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers

Also Read: Next Gen Cup: Bengaluru FC ends campaign on a high with 2-1 win over Sudeva Delhi FC

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The draw saw 43 teams divided into 10 groups of four and one group of three. Each group will be played at a centralised venue in a single round-robin format, with the 11 group winners and four best second-placed teams qualifying for the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024. They will join Qatar, who have received automatic qualification as hosts, to form the final cast of 16 at the tournament, to be played between April 15 to May 3, 2024.

The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 will also serve as a qualifier for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024. The top three teams will directly qualify for the Olympic Games as the AFC representatives, while the fourth-best team will play in the AFC-CAF Play-off.

AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 will be the competition’s sixth edition, and India will attempt to make it to the final tournament for the first time.

India’s qualifying fixtures

September 6: India vs Maldives
September 9: China PR vs India
September 12: United Arab Emirates vs India

AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 Qualifiers Draw Result

Group A: Jordan (H), Syria, Oman, Brunei Darussalam
Group B: Korea Republic (H), Myanmar, Krygyz Republic, Qatar
Group C: Vietnam (H), Singapore, Yemen, Guam
Group D: Japan, Bahrain (H), Palestine, Pakistan
Group E: Uzbekistan (H), IR Iran, Hong Kong, Afghanistan
Group F: Iraq, Kuwait (H), Timor Leste, Macau
Group G: UAE, India, Maldives, China PR (H)
Group H: Thailand (H), Malaysia, Bangladesh, Philippines
Group I: Australia, Tajikistan (H), Laos, DPR Korea
Group J: Saudi Arabia (H), Cambodia, Lebanon, Mongolia
Group K: Turkmenistan, Indonesia (H), Chinese Taipei

Also Read: Next Gen Cup: Bengaluru FC ends campaign on a high with 2-1 win over Sudeva Delhi FC

Also Read: Goals Galore: WIFA Inter District Championship Kicks Off with a Bang

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Earlier, UAE beat Oman 2-0 to end as the toppers of Group E in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers. As the match between India and the Kyrgyz Republic ended in a stalemate, both sides finished the group on four points apiece, with the same goal difference (zero), an equal number of goals scored in all the matches (2). To decide who takes the second and third spots, respectively, in Group E, a penalty shootout was held, which India won 4-2.

In the penalty shootout, Dheeraj started with a couple of spectacular saves while Rahul KP, Rohit Danu, Suresh Singh, and Rahim Ali scored from the spot.

India coach Igor Stimac made only one change to the starting XI from the previous game, handing Amarjit Singh his first start in this campaign as he replaced Jeakson Singh in the middle of the park.

Apuia tried to hurl the first attack in as early as the fifth minute but his long-ranger could not pose any threat to the Kyrgyz defence. Two minutes later, Rahul, from the left flank, outran Kumarbai Uulu with sheer pace, but eventually, Adilet Kanybekov neutralised his effort.

The central Asian outfit sprung into life three minutes later when forward Alygulov Maksat was denied by Narender inside the 18-yard-box, five minutes later, the youngster cancelled Tapaev Temirbolot’s right-footed curler.

Rahim shielded off Artiukov Daniil before rolling it to an onrushing Vikram whose left-footed effort flew away from the target in the 21st minute. The forward played another pivotal role a minute later as he passed the ball to Amarjit, but the Manipuri midfielder skied his effort after four minutes.

Borubaev Gulzhigit beat the offside trap to outpace Asish Rai from the left, but Dheeraj came up with a spectacular save after the half-hour mark to keep the score unscathed. Both teams headed to the changing room with the scores unchanged at the lemon break.

The Kyrgyz Republic resumed with more intent and came close to breaking the deadlock in the 50th minute but Maksat skied his effort. India appealed for a penalty on the hour-mark anticipating a handball inside the Kyrgyz box but the Maldivian referee Mohamed Javiz paid no attention to it.

India latched on their best possible chance seven minutes later when Deepak Tangri put an acrobatic bicycle kick from a handshaking distance, only to be thwarted by Kyrgyz goalkeeper Tokotaev Erzhan.

India’s pursuit for the winning goal could have come three minutes later, but Rahul’s fierce shot from 30 yards out came agonisingly close to breaching the indomitable Kyrgyz defence, only to have ricocheted off the post. On the rebound, Vikram tried his luck but Erzhan jumped to his left to negate the danger.

Ten minutes to the end of regulation time, substitute Rohit Danu could have opened the scoreline, but Narender’s shot from an acute angle was fisted away by the goalkeeper leaving the Indian dugout aghast.

At the other end, Kyrgyz broke away on a counter-attack, exploiting a mistake by the defender. His backpass was anticipated by Sharshenbekov Arlen inside the box and he left it to an onrushing Abilov Ernaz, who snuck into the penalty box unmarked. Dheeraj, however, positioned himself perfectly to save it with his usual composure in the 85th minute.

With just minutes of regulation time left, Suresh lobbed a looping free-kick and Deepak Tangri fired it from close range, only to see it saved by the opposition goalkeeper.

With both teams tied on the same number of points, goal difference, and goals scored, the match went into a penalty shootout to decide who finishes second and third, respectively, in Group E.

Dheeraj made a couple of scintillating saves in the penalty shoot-out before Rahim Ali scored the winning spot-kick to elevate India to the second position in the group.

India U-23 XI: Dheeraj Singh; Asish Rai, Narender Gahlot, Deepak Tangri, Akash Mishra (Sumit Rathi 79′); Vikram Partap Singh (Bryce Miranda 88′), Suresh Singh, Lalengmawia, Amarjit Singh (Rohit Danu 67′), Rahul KP; Rahim Ali

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