Photo courtesy: AIFF Media
Fresh from their encouraging performance in the AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers in Tabriz City, Iran, the India U-16 National Team, presently preparing for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup registered a 2-0 victory over Elche CF U-16 in a practice match at the Torrevieja Stadium on Thursday (September 24).
The Indian colts are presently on a tour to Spain where they would be playing practice matches against Spanish club sides.
The U-16 boys, who had finished 2nd in Group E of the AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers and in the process earned a qualification spot to the Finals next year to be played in Goa on merit (besides being an automatic qualifier by virtue of being a host), surged into the lead in the 34th minute.
Ninthoi latched upon a long throw by goalkeeper Dheeraj and seeing the rival goalkeeper off his line, he chipped it over his outstretched hands from about 35 yards.
In the first half which was mainly confined to the midfield, India had another chance towards the fag end. But even after Ninthoi released Aman in the clear, the latter fumbled a bit in the box allowing the rivals to recover.
However, Aman doubled the score in the second half and the colts held onto it till the final whistle.
Meanwhile, Boris had to be taken to a nearby hospital as he needed stitches after a collision with a rival player.
(Report & Photo courtesy AIFF Media)