India Steamroll Lebanon in AFC U-16 Qualifiers, Win 6-0

India defeated Lebanon 6-0 to finish their engagement at the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers in style here on Sunday. (India thrash Bahrain 5-0)

Besides a hat-trick by Suresh, Komal and Amarjit scored one apiece. The other was an own goal by Habib in a desperate attempt to thwart a Komal centre. India led 1-0 at the interval. (India go down fighting to Iran)

After Sunday's win, India finished second in Group E with six points from three matches. Despite being the hosts and an automatic qualifier for the AFC U-16 Finals, slated to be held in India next year, the colts stay on course to get a direct Qualification spot as the second best finisher among all groups.

At the post-match press conference head coach Nicolai Adam mentioned that "Football at the U-16 level should be played like this."

"I had said after our defeat to Iran that I did not like the performance of both the teams on that day and I stay with my opinion," he opined. "Today we saw U-16 football as U-16 football should be played - tactically and possession wise and not just long balls as it was on display in the match against Iran.

"It's only from July 1 that I started training the Team and I need to mention about my immense respect for the Technical people who were in charge of the team prior to me taking charge."

India's first goal came in the 28th minute. It was a buildup from the back and even as Amarjit with his sudden burst of speed caught the rival midfield unaware, he found Suresh for support. Once Suresh received the ball, he sidestepped his marker and his grounder from almost 25 yards beat a diving rival Goalkeeper Mohammad Zahr to his right.

In the second half, India doubled the lead in the 71st minute when Suresh ran past the rival midfield, played an one-two with Aman as he entered the box and rounded past Zahr and tapped it in.

Thereafter, the flood gates opened with the next two goals coming in the next two minutes.

The third one was an own goal, the curly haired Lebanon central defender Habib shot into his own net in a desperate attempt to intercept Komal's low centre, which would have otherwise found Aman in the clear.

The very next minute, Komal got his name on the list when he followed up to head off a rebound over Zahr's outstretched hands.

Amarjit made it 5-0 in the 80th and then Suresh completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute.

The U-16 squad flies to Spain from Tabriz. With the AGS Cup having got cancelled, they would be playing six matches against Spanish Club sides against the likes of Real Sociedad, FC Levante, Villarreal, amongst others.