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SAFF Under-16: India in semis

Last updated on: August 05, 2011 17:12 IST

India thrashed the Maldives 5-0 in their last group league match to enter the semi-finals in the Under-16 SAFF Championship, at the Dashrath stadium, in Kathamandu, Nepal, on Friday.

The victory enabled the Indian colts finish second in Group A.

The Thomas Joseph-coached side will take on the Group B winner in the second semi-final on August 8.

Vanlalduatsanga scored a brace, while Daniel Lalampuia, Raja Rawat and Prakash Mojumdar were the other scorers.

India's numerous inroads into the opponent's citadel paid off in the 31st minute, when a Nabin Raba attempt from the outside the 18-yard box was tapped home by Lallampuia after the Maldives keeper failed to collect cleanly.

The Indians doubled their lead in the 37th minute when left-wing-half Rawat found the net from inside the box.

Vanlalduatsanga made it 3-0 at the stroke of half-time. Myron Mendes did all the hard work, running past three defenders down the right flank and providing an inch perfect cross for Vanlalduatsanga to do the rest.

India continued to dictate terms in the second half, and Vanlalduatsanga got his second goal with a neat strike from inside the box in the 54th minute. India were down to ten men when Lalramzuava was given marching orders in the 61st minute.

Prakash Mojumdar completed the rout in the 63rd minute.

Coach Thomas Joseph was all praise for his boys. "We utilised the conditions very well. The boys played extremely well today and it's a great victory before the semi-finals," he said.