XtraTime Web Desk: Riding on Vikram Pratap Singh’s hat-trick a superior India U16 scored four times against hosts Jordan to register a comfortable 4-0 victory in their first match of the 5th WAFF U16 Championship at the King Abdullah II Stadium in Jordan last night.
Vikram opened the scoring in the 43rd minute and then added two more in the 61st and the 73rd minutes to complete the trick before Bekey Oram completed the rout in the 84th minute.
A strong Japan U16 awaits the Indian colts in the next match on August 3, 2018 evening. This is the 4th exposure tour since June 30 for the boys after trips to China, Thailand and Malaysia.
The match started at a slow pace with both the teams hooked on to a ‘safety-first’ approach and no one could garner a clear chance. Givson, who generally operates as the distributor in the middle, floated a looping ball from the left wing for Vikram in the 13th minute but the Jordanian goalkeeper came out to clear it away.
It was, however, Vikram who broke the deadlock two minutes to the half-time from inside the 6-yard box.
India earned a free-kick at an acute angle following a harsh challenge on Bekey Oram. As Givson ran a dummy, Vikram opted to take a short free-kick to Ridge who passed it onto Rohit Danu. The forward outfoxed the Jordanian defender to unleash a low delivery for Vikram who tapped it in.
Changing over, the game sprang into life when Indian Goalkeeper Niraj Kumar made two valiant efforts to deny the hosts from scoring the equaliser.
Just as the clock crossed the hour-mark, Vikram doubled the lead from another brilliantly-crafted work by Bekey. The stocky midfielder outpaced the defender down the left flank and put it forward for Danu in the clear. The resultant pass from Danu was calmly tapped home by Vikram to make it 2-0.
Having seated firmly at the top, India opted to press more to secure a handsome victory. In the 73rd minute, Rohit pressed the Jordan goalkeeper hard who ended up passing the ball to Givson at the edge of the box. He delivered a looping ball to an unmarked Vikram who blasted it in.
Head Coach Bibiano Fernandes introduced Ravi Bahadur Rana and Sailo in the 75th minute in place of Vikram and Givson respectively. The duo played a crucial role in building up the fourth goal of the night which was converted exquisitely by Bekey Oram in the 84th minute.
India U16 Head Coach Bibiano Fernandez told www.xtratime.in , “Well, as you know they had quality in their team. Same goes to our next opposition Japan.Yes, they have a big squad and they rotate players. But regarding my team what all I can say is thatnthey are hungry. It’s their magic. All credit goes to them.”
India U16 Team: Niraj Kumar (GK), Thoiba Singh, Harpreet Singh, Shabas Ahammed, Manish Chaudhary, Bekey Oram 84′, Ridge Melvin (Harpreet 86′), Givson Singh (Sailo 75′), Ricky John, Vikram Singh (C) (43′, 61′, 73′) (Ravi Bahadur Rana 75′), Rohit Danu.