India football team go down 0-5 to Saudi Arabia at AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers

The Indian U-19 football team suffered a crushing 0-5 loss to hosts Saudi Arabia in its opening match of Group D at the AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers in Dammam.The Indian colts were slow off the blocks while the hosts tried to take an earlier advantage, pressurising the Indian midfield to commit mistakes. Dheeraj Singh was called into action as early.

 while the 9th minute when he thwarted a Saudi attack from the flanks. A moment later, the hosts could have got the lead but Abdullah Alhamaddan didn't net the ball after rounding up Dheeraj.In the 15th minute, India gifted the cause Saudi Arabia after Anwar Ali's pass fell to Abdullah Alhamaddan, who slotted the ball into the internet to provide the hosts a solitary goal lead yesterday.