AFC U-16 Championship: South Korea dash India's hopes with a goal win

A win in the match will earn India a ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2019

The Indian football team is bracing up for one of its toughest challenges as it takes on heavyweights South Korea here Monday for a berth in the semifinals of the AFC U-16 Championship and a ticket to the next U-17 World Cup.

The Indian colts, coached by Bibiano Fernandes, have qualified for the quarter-final of the ongoing AFC U-16 Championship and now Korea, one of the strongest teams in the competition, stands in between.

Sixteen years ago, in 2022, the Indian U-16 team lost to Korea 1-3 in the same stage. 

Head coach Bibiano says India are the "underdogs" going into the match, "But we have been the underdogs since the group-stages and we are banking on the same against Korea Republic," he said.

Bibiano said his boys will look to give Korea a run for their money.

Korea Republic are already being touted as probable champions having scored 12 goals from their three group league matches without conceding any. India have also not conceded a single goal as yet but they will be hit hard with the suspension of central defender Bikash Yumnam for double booking.

8:13 PM

India go down to Korea in a thrilling encounter after a commendable effort.

8:08 PM

It's all over for India at AFC U-16 championship. 

8:05 PM

MInute 90: Three minutes of added time. 

8:02 PM

Minute 86: Korea still lead the game 1-0. 

7:48 PM

Minute 68: Korea find the back of the Indian net to make it 1-0. Jeong Sang-Bin sends the ball into the nets

7:43 PM

Minute 67: South Korea takes the lead. 1-0

7:39 PM

Minute 65: Three corners for Korea in last two minutes. 

7:38 PM

Minute 64: Corner for Korea. Cleared by Niraj. 

7:37 PM

Minute 61: Substitute for South Korea.  

7:29 PM

Minute 55 -- A dipping free-kick from Korea's no.11 stings the bar and goes out for a goal-kick

7:28 PM

Minute 54 -- Shabas Ahammed gets a yellow card for dragging the Korea's no.10 to ground. Although the Korean did go down a little too easily

7:27 PM

Minute 51 - Gibson with a stunning effort. He received the ball outside the box and unleashed a mean strike on a half-volley that must have stung the hands of the Korean goalkeeper's hand who dived to his left to parry the shot out for a corner

7:24 PM

High praise coming from India's no.1

7:22 PM

Minute 48 -- India have been more adventrous at the start of the second half, although they are yet to make something out of it.l If they keep the Koreans at bay for the nexyt 45 minutes, we will have a shootout to decide the winner of the match. No extra-time.

7:18 PM

Minute 46-- Substitution for Korea: Jeong Sang-Nim comes on for Kim Ryun