The India U-19 colts were held to a goalless draw against Malaysian club side Felda United FC on Wednesday, August 19 in their first match of the FAM-FRENZ Asia Champions Trophy 2015 at the Hang Tuah Stadium in Malaysia.

The India U-19s have been drawn in Group B alongside Frenz United A, Chonburi FC and Felda United; and clashes swords against Thailand’s Chonburi FC next on August 29 in another away fixture.

After a wary start, the Indian contingent started to pull string and dominate possession. With his beckoning guile and glitzy moves, Suman Sarkar exposed the defence of the opposition, but to no avail. Two long shorts shortly after, first by Nishu Kumar and then by Vinit Rai, came agonizingly close to open the goal scoring tally for the colts. At the half-time both teams went into the tunnel on level pegging.

Head Coach Lee Johnson shuffled his pack and introduced Lalrinzuala in place of Loken Meitei after the break to up the ante of the Indian colts. In the dying embers of the game, the Indian clots had an opportunity to grab the winner, but a low drive from Ashique Kuruniyan, after a tacky passing move, went whiskers wide of the goal. Both teams nullified each other for the rest of the time and at the end of ninety-minutes the scoreline remained 0-0.

(Report & Photo courtesy AIFF Media)