Defender Jerry Lalrinzuala scored a spectacular goal through a long-ranger as India beat Nepal 1-0 to lift the South Asian Football Federation Under-16 Championships title here on Tuesday.
India, represented by All India Football Federation’s Regional Academy, surged ahead in the 18th minute with Lalrinzuala unleashing a powerful left-footed 35-yard strike to beat the Nepalese goalie in the final match at the Dasharath Stadium.
The early goal, which stunned the partisan home crowd to silence, turned out to be the match-winner. India returned unbeaten in the biennial tournament.
On a rain-soaked afternoon in Kathmandu, India dominated proceedings from the first whistle, with the boys showing exemplary maturity to play according to the heavy ground conditions.
Birthday boy Jerry could not have asked for a better gift. The 14-year old Mizoram lad impressed one and all with his darting overlaps down the left flank and was rewarded for his performance in the 18th minute.
Latching on to a loose ball just outside the 18-yard box, Jerry sent a left-footer from 35-yards out which crashed into the top left corner of the Nepal goalpost.
The Indian lads, who led 1-0 at halftime, continued to impress post the breather as the rain kept pouring down. They held on to the goal after that and ensured they finished atop of their rivals.
U-16 coach Goutam aims high, wants to beat European sides
The Under-16 football team on Tuesday recorded a rare win in an international tournament but coach Goutam Ghosh is not a satisfied man as he dreams of watching his side beat top European teams in future.
‘I am not satisfied. I would be satisfied when India will beat Italy, France - the European teams. We have played the game hard, supposed to win. It is our first success and credit goes to boys for their work,’ Ghosh said after the match.
Ghosh, who has been guiding the side since September 2012. ‘It was not a good pitch for a good game. It was so slippery and controlling the ball was difficult. Strategy had to change.’