India outclass Bhutan

India played an inspired second half to outclass Bhutan 4-1 in their opening match of the Asian Football Confederation under-20 championship in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Ashim Biswas and Malswam Tluanga netted twice each for the hosts, while Sonam Jamtsho scored Bhutan's only goal in the flood-lit encounter at the Salt Lake stadium.

In an earlier match, Tajikistan registered a 2-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan, with Djabarov Sharif and Sadikov Makhmadali finding the target for the winners, who enjoyed near total domination in the match.

India, after an insipid first half display, found their bearings in the second session and attacked from both flanks. They shot into the lead in the 12th minute when central midfielder Bongo Singh set up Malswam Tluanga, who received the ball near the opponent's goal line and essayed a cross for Biswas on the top of the box. The last-named kept his cool and let go a rasping right-footer which entered the net, giving no chance to Bhutan custodian Pushpalal Sharma.

India continued to attack but it was Bhutan who restored parity 11 minutes later. From a sudden counter-offensive, medio Kinley Dorji passed to Sonam Jamtsho, who unleashed an excellent 35-yarder into the net, over the head of advancing Indian goalkeeper Satish Kumar.

India regained the lead in the opening minutes of the second session, when a Sayeed Rahim Nabi cross from the left was received inside the box by Tluanga, who hit the target with a powerful shot after dribbling past two defenders.

The hosts kept up the pressure but lack of coordination in midfield proved their undoing.

A Tluanga pass from goalline helped Biswas to fire home the third goal for the hosts.

Tluanga made the final score 4-1 when he found the target in the dying minutes.

India's chief coach Islam Akhmedov employed Sayeed Rahim Nabi as the only striker. Nabi, however, found himself outnumbered time and again as the midfielders failed to play the providers' role to perfection.

In the 19th minute, Bongo Singh's power-packed shot missed the target while Subhas Chakraborty was distinctly unlucky later in the same session, when his strong right-footer hit the inside of the crossbar and came back into play.

Bongo Singh, who put up a fine performance and played the key role in setting up some brilliant set-piece movements, was named man of the match.

While India take on Tajikistan in their next match on July 14, Bhutan face Kyrgyzstan the same day.

Easy for Tajikistan

Tajikistan gave ample demonstration of their footballing prowess to post a 2-0 win over Kyrgyzstan in the opening match of the touirnament.

Djabarov Sharif and Sadikov Makhmadali found the target for the winners, who enjoyed near-total domination in the Salt Lake stadium encounter.

After the initial Kyrgyz forays, Tajikistan took control of the game, bewitching the handful of spectators with neat passes and good ball control.

They went into the lead in the 18th minute, when Ismoilov Jamshed's free-kick from the left of the box was directed to the net by Djabarov with an excellent snap header.

The Tajiks continued attacking and made the scoreline 2-0 in the 30th minute.

Kyrgyzstan custodian Kashuba Valery missed the flight of an Ismoilov floater from the left and the ball travelled to Borotov Murodali, who kept his cool and passed to an unmarked Sadikov. The striker tapped in from close.

Kyrgyzstan were reduced to 10 men in the 61st minute when Kydyraliev Timur was given marching orders for bringing down Tajik Eradzh Nasikhov from behind.