ID :
200202
Tue, 08/09/2011 - 17:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/200202
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U16 SAFF Cup Final Pakistan face arch-rival India on Wednesday
Kathmandu, August 09, 2011 (PPI): Pakistan take on arch-rival India Wednesday in the final of first ever U16 SAFF Cup. Pakistan had defeated India 1-0 in opening game of the tournament but India will be buoyed by their gritty win over hosts Nepal in the semi-final.
Pakistan U16 team has been in unstoppable form in SAFF Cup. They started off with a 1-0 win over India and followed it up with a 6-0 demolition of Maldives. They faced off against Bangladesh in semi-final and looked to have met their match finally.
Pakistan has scored highest number of goals in the tournament so far, nine, and is yet to concede. Mansoor Khan has been in outstanding form and has scored two goals so far. Winger Sher Ali has been another top performer, scoring three goals. Muhammad Bilal is current top scorer in SAFF Cup, thanks to his four goals against Maldives. Pakistanis will start this match as favorites, having already beaten India once.
India didn’t perform as well as they could have in temi-final clash against hosts Nepal. Despite having a physical advantage, Indian players seemed to struggle with the speed and movement of Nepali players.
Indian coach Thomas Joseph knows his team needs to improve a lot to defeat Pakistan in the final. Against Nepal, Indian players resorted to long ball tactics when they failed to break the opponent defence - a tactic that will not work against physically dominant Pakistani players.
There is a chance that it might rain before the match starts. If it rains, India will start the match one step ahead, otherwise it will be a tough match for Indian colts.
Pakistan U16 team has been in unstoppable form in SAFF Cup. They started off with a 1-0 win over India and followed it up with a 6-0 demolition of Maldives. They faced off against Bangladesh in semi-final and looked to have met their match finally.
Pakistan has scored highest number of goals in the tournament so far, nine, and is yet to concede. Mansoor Khan has been in outstanding form and has scored two goals so far. Winger Sher Ali has been another top performer, scoring three goals. Muhammad Bilal is current top scorer in SAFF Cup, thanks to his four goals against Maldives. Pakistanis will start this match as favorites, having already beaten India once.
India didn’t perform as well as they could have in temi-final clash against hosts Nepal. Despite having a physical advantage, Indian players seemed to struggle with the speed and movement of Nepali players.
Indian coach Thomas Joseph knows his team needs to improve a lot to defeat Pakistan in the final. Against Nepal, Indian players resorted to long ball tactics when they failed to break the opponent defence - a tactic that will not work against physically dominant Pakistani players.
There is a chance that it might rain before the match starts. If it rains, India will start the match one step ahead, otherwise it will be a tough match for Indian colts.
