India draw 1-1 with Uzbekistan, qualify for AFC U-16 Championship

KOLKATA: India colts qualified for the AFC Under-16 Championship finals next year after securing a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan in the qualifiers in Tashkent on Sunday.
India, coached by Bibiano Fernandes, finished on 7 points from 3 matches - the same as Uzbekistan - but qualified as group winners by virtue of better goal difference (+10) in comparison to Uzbekistan (+3).India had earlier beaten Turkmenistan, and Bahrain by identical 5-0 margins.
Sridarth Nongmeikapam, who scored India's only goal in the 68th minute, impressed one and all by taking his goal-tally to five in the competition. He had earlier scored a brace each against Turkmenistan and Bahrain.
Rian Islamov found the equaliser for Uzbekistan in the 81st minute.
Sridarth has now set his sights on the finals next year. "I am very happy to have scored the goals. Now we have the Championship next year and I want to do well in that. Bibiano sir is also happy with our performance. I want to dedicate this win to the entire team," Sridarth told TOI after the match.
Salkia-boy Shubho Paul, who scored one against Turkmenistan and a brace against Bahrain, said qualifying for the finals is a special feeling. "It is a special feeling to make it to the finals. We as a team have put in a good performance. I thank the coach for his support and backing. Now our target is to perform well in the finals next year. I hope we as a team will do well," Shubho told TOI.
A total of 16 teams will play in the tournament in 2020, with Bahrain automatically qualifying as hosts. This is India's third consecutive entry into the AFC U-16 Championships, and 9th overall.
Since 2011, this is India's fourth entry into the AFC U-16 meet, the previous ones being in 2011, 2015, and in 2017.
Last year, the Indian boys lost to Korea Republic in the quarterfinals of the meet.
"I am extremely proud of my boys. There has been a lot of hard work put in, and every support staff, and player deserves equal credit," Bibiano told AIFF.
"But the real challenge begins now. Last year, we suffered a heart-breaking loss in the quarterfinals against Korea Republic. Our preparation for the AFC U-16 finals has already begun with the final whistle," the coach added.
Bibiano's boys have been in fluent form in last couple of months. After earning victories in Thailand during the pre-season, the boys clinched the SAFF U-15 Championship beating Nepal in the final in Kalyani last month, followed by winning two friendlies in Turkey, which included a 6-3 win over Turkish football club Fenerbahce FK.