Football News: India make a winning start in AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers

The India U-16 boys Team marched on to yet another win, this time, defeating the Central Asian side Turkmenistan in their opening match of the AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers in Group B. Sridarth was the top performer, scoring a brace while Shubho Paul was also not too far behind, scoring a first-half goal, and providing an assist for Taison Singh in the second half. Substitute Himanshu Jangra scored the remaining goal in the second half. Just ahead of the half-hour mark, however, the Indians took the early lead through winger Shubho. Sridarth was played through into the Turkmen box from the right. Just a few minutes ahead of the half-time break, Sridarth doubled the lead. They may have gone into the break with a two-goal lead, but Bibiano's boys picked up right where they left off. A few minutes into the restart, Taison Singh added the third. It was after this goal, that India gaffer Bibiano Fernandes brought on striker Himanshu Jangra in place of Taison, pushing Sridarth out to the wing, and providing some physicality upfront. Sridarth finished off the scoring late in injury time, as he plonked it over the keeper to make it five.