India football team started their AFC Cup Under—19 qualification campaign on a disastrous note with hosts Iraq blanking them 0-5 in their opening match at the Francouse Hareeri stadium in Arbil.
Amhed Waleed Hussain and Mustafa Jalal scored two goals, while substitute Muhaimen found the net once in the one-sided affair yesterday, according to information received here.
India will next play Saudi Arabia tomorrow.
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Playing on their home soil, Iraq displayed an all out attacking game and dominated the match from the onset.
However, it was India who had the golden opportunity to take the lead in the very first minute of the match but Manandeep’s open header went way wide of the right crossbar.
The Iraqis played a very fast paced game and went into the lead as early as in the 10th minute of the game through Amjed Waleed Hussain, who found the net from a cross from the right flank.
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An unmarked Mustafa Jalal then registered his name in the score-sheet to go into the breather with a 2-0 lead.
Amjed completed his double in the second half with a beautiful free kick strike from 30 yards which beat India custodian Gurpreet all ends up.