Fujairah (UAE), Oct 31: Indian football team secured its best ever finish in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers by claiming the second spot in Group E as goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh made some spectacular saves to help the side win the shootout against Kyrgyz Republic 4-2 after regulation time ended goalless here.
With the match ending in a stalemate, both sides finished the group on four points apiece with the same goal difference (0) and equal number of goals 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.
Earlier, UAE beat Oman 2-0 to end as the toppers of Group E. Top teams from each Group qualify directly for next year’s continental showpiece along with the best four second-placed teams across all Groups. India now need to wait till the conclusion of other Group matches to know if they can qualify for their maiden AFC U-23 Asian Cup.
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.
Earlier in the match, 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.
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.
Both teams headed to the changing room with the scores unchanged at the lemon break. 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 chance seven minutes later when Deepak Tangri put an acrobatic bicycle kick, only to be thwarted by Kyrgyz goalkeeper Tokotaev Erzhan.
With just minutes of regulation time left, Suresh lobbed a looping free-kick and Deepak Tangri fired from close range, only to see it saved. (PTI)
