India concede two late goals to lose 1-3 to Saudis

New Delhi :

India scored an own goal and conceded two late goals to go down 1-3 to Saudi Arabia in their Group C match of AFC Under-19 Championships qualifiers at Arbil, Iraq.

Surprisingly, India, who played with 10 men from the 66th minute when Vishal Kumar earned his second yellow card of the match, took the lead in the 28th minute and led 1-0 at half time. But Deepak Devrani did a favour to the Saudis by scoring an own goal in the 55th minute.

Saudi Arabia scored in the 90th minute and fourth minute of injury time (94th) to win the match.

With the loss yesterday, India who had lost to Iraq 0-5 in their opening match, are virtually out of reckoning for a berth in next year's AFC Championships. Only the group winners and runners-up will get automatic qualifications.

India, who made three changes from the side which lost to Iraq, started on a positive note and made few good moves through Lalrindika but could not convert the chances into goals.

With a large contingent of local Kurdish fans behind India, Shilton D'Silva put India ahead in the 28th minute.

Deepak Devrani passed the ball from a free kick to Rozama on the left flank. Rozama moved up and sent a curling cross to Shilton who neatly headed home to give India a 1-0 lead.

Saudi Arabia equalised in the 55th minutes when a clearance from Deepak Devrani was misjudged by the Indian custodian and the ball found the back of the net resulting in a self goal.

The Indians were reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute when Vishal Kumar earned his second yellow card of the match.

The Saudis seized the being one-man advantage and their strike combination of Yahya Hussain, Abdullas Ibrahim, Mohammed Yahya and Yasir Hussain troubled the Indians who were forced to go defensive.

India conceded a goal in the 90th minute barely a few second away from the final whistle through Abdulla Ali and then Saudi substitute Muhannad Hamed scored in the fourth minute of the injury time.