India began its title defence at the Men’s Junior Asia Cup in style with an 11-0 win over Thailand in a Pool A match in Muscat, Oman, on Wednesday.
India dominated the first half and went into the mid-game interval with an 8-0 lead. The side, led by Amir Ali and coached by former Indian goalkeeper P R Sreejesh, added three more goals to its tally in the second half.
Araijeet Singh Hundal, Gurjot Singh and Sourabh Anand Kushwaha all scored two goals each while Arshdeep Singh, Sharda Nand Tiwari, Dilraj Singh, Rohit and Mukesh Toppo had one goal apiece.
India maintained control over the ball from the starting whistle and quickly found the back of the net. Hundal scored the first goal with a harrowing reverse shot from the left wing, following an incisive pass by Priyobarta Talem from the backline. India continued to apply constant pressure on Thailand, frequently foraying into the shooting circle with aerial passes to the wings. Soon after, Talem found a clever pass to the left wing, and Arshdeep was alert to push the ball into the goal after a save from Thailand’s goalkeeper, Thawin Phomjunt.
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With five minutes left in the quarter, India earned a Penalty Corner, and Tiwari stepped up to drag the ball past Thailand’s defence, making it 3-0 for India.
Minutes into the second quarter, Gurjot deflected Hundal’s shot on goal past the keeper to sound the board and stamped India’s authority in the game. While Thailand was still regrouping, Kushwaha pounced on a rebound from a close-range shot and lifted it over the keeper, making it 5-0. Dilraj was next to etch his name on the scoresheet, picking up a deflected ball in the circle and beating the keeper with a reverse shot from the top of the circle.
India’s dominance continued as it pinched the ball in Thailand’s half and pushed forward in search of another goal. In the 24th minute, Hundal danced past multiple defenders in the circle and picked out the top left corner with a sublime reverse shot. With little more than a minute left in the half, Amir earned a Penalty Stroke, and Rohit stepped up to make it 8-0 with a low and powerful shot from the spot.
In the third quarter, India created multiple chances but missed the finishing touch. Thailand grew into the game with more possession and territory but failed to threaten the Indian goal. India held onto possession and pushed Thailand back, but its defence repelled every advance until Rosan Kujur found Gurjot, who deflected the ball into the goal, making it 9-0 for India with seconds left in the third quarter.
In the final quarter, India showed more patience in the build-up with Manmeet Singh, Hundal, Dilraj, and other Indian forwards constantly threatening to score. Kushwaha found the finishing touch in the 52nd minute, deflecting Amir’s pass from the left wing to score India’s 10th goal. Maintaining complete control over the ball and displaying exemplary defense, India continued to seek another goal. As the game came to a close, Mukesh found himself unmarked in the circle and rifled the ball into the goal, sealing India’s 11-0 victory.
India takes on Japan in its next group stage match on Thursday.
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