The Indian U-17 men’s football team launched their AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers Group D campaign with a commanding 13-0 victory over Brunei Darussalam at the Chonburi Stadium, Thailand, on Wednesday. From the outset, India dominated the match, securing an emphatic win that showed their potential in the tournament.
India wasted no time asserting control, with forward Vishal Yadav opening the scoring in just the eighth minute. Cutting in from the right, Yadav calmly slotted the ball into the net, setting the tone for what would become a one-sided affair. The floodgates opened when Md Arbash doubled India’s lead from the penalty spot 16 minutes later, before assisting Yadav for India’s third.
Arbash’s brilliant playmaking continued to cause Brunei trouble, as he delivered another assist in the 38th minute, setting up Bharat Lairenjam for India’s fourth goal. India’s relentless attack was capped off with a fifth goal before halftime, when Mohammed Kaif headed in from a corner, ensuring the team went into the break with a comfortable 5-0 lead.
Vishal Yadav completed his hat-trick early in the second half, scoring in the 51st minute after rounding the Brunei goalkeeper and calmly finishing. With the game already sealed, Indian head coach Ishfaq Ahmed took the opportunity to test his bench strength.
India’s seventh goal came just past the hour mark, when team captain Ngamgouhou Mate capitalized on a poorly cleared free-kick to finish from close range. Substitute Manbhakupar Malngiang then added his name to the scoresheet in the 74th minute, after receiving a through ball and beating the goalkeeper with ease.
Hemneichung Lunkim, who had been a constant threat throughout the match, finally got his reward in the 82nd minute. Picking up a loose ball inside the box, Lunkim turned and fired home with his weaker foot. Moments later, India reached double digits when Azlaan Shah scored from a Rishi Singh assist.
With Brunei visibly fatigued, India added two more late goals courtesy of Mahmad Sami and Sumit Sharma, bringing the scoreline to 12-0. But the final strike of the game came in injury time from Usham Thoungamba Singh, who unleashed a stunning long-range effort that nestled into the corner of the net to complete India’s 13-0 rout.
India’s resounding victory sends a strong message to their Group D rivals. Their next match is against Turkmenistan on October 25, while Brunei faces host Thailand later that day.
