India hammers Brunei 13-0 in AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers, tops its qualification group

India had 11 different goalscorers as it destroyed Brunei 13-0 in its opening match of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2025 qualifier at the Chonburi Stadium in Thailand on Wednesday.

Vishal Yadav was the highest scorer in the India goal-fest, scoring a brace in the first half and completing his hat-trick, six minutes into the second half. | Photo Credit: AIFF Media

The Indian under-17 men’s team started its AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers Group D campaign in style, beating Brunei Darussalam 13-0 at the Chonburi Stadium in Thailand on Wednesday.

India’s assault started right from kick-off and in the eighth minute, Vishal Yadav found the breakthrough, entering the box from the right and slotting it in with finesse.

Md Arbash doubled the lead 16 minutes later from the spot and then set up the third for Vishal. Arbash’s playmaking continued to trouble Brunei as he assisted the fourth in the 38th minute, driving in from the left and cutting it for scorer Bharat Lairenjam.

Mohammed Kaif put the cherry on top of a five-star first half with a header from a corner in the 42nd minute.

Vishal completed his hat-trick six minutes into the second half, picking up a through ball, rounding the goalkeeper and finishing smoothly. With the game wrapped up, coach Ishfaq Ahmed decided to test his bench strength.

Just after the hour mark captain Ngamgouhou Mate capitalised on some sloppy defending to score India’s seventh goal. A badly cleared free kick offered Mate a chance from close range to put the ball in the net. Substitute Manbhakupar Malngiang got a goal of his own in the 74th minute, picking up a through ball, rounding the goalkeeper, and finishing with ease.

India celebrates one of its 13 goals against Brunei in the U17 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Thailand. | Photo Credit: AIFF Media

Hemneichung Lunkim, who had been among the most prolific players for India — without getting on the scoresheet — finally got his reward in the 82nd minute. The forward picked up a loose ball inside the box, and on the turn shot it with his weaker foot, into the goal. A few minutes later, India got into double digits via Azlaan Shah’s goal from Rishi Singh’s assist.

With Brunei’s players visibly fading and fatigued, India slotted two more goals in the final minutes of the game, with Mahmad Sami and Sumit Sharma adding the goals to make it a clean dozen.

Just when it seemed the game was done, came the pick of the bunch. In injury time, Usham Thoungamba Singh picked up the ball outside the box before letting it loose from long range. The ball slotted perfectly into the corner to give India a 13th goal from an utterly dominant performance.

India plays Turkmenistan on October 25 next while Brunei squares off with Thailand later on the same day.