India Emerge Group Winners To Qualify For AFC U-16 Finals

The India U-16 team played out a 1-1 draw against hosts Uzbekistan on Sunday to finish on top of Group B and qualify for the AFC U-16 Championship Bahrain 2020. The Indian colts, coached by Bibiano Fernandes, finished on 7 points from 3 matches -- the same as Uzbekistan -- but qualified as group winners by virtue of better goal difference (+10) in comparison to Uzbekistan's goal difference of +3. India had earlier beaten Turkmenistan U-16, and Bahrain U-16 by identical 5-0 margins.

Qualifying for the #AFCU16 finals is a fantastic first step. Now to keep your heads down, build on the campaign and do yourselves proud once again, lads. But before all of that, enjoy this moment. You've earned it. @IndianFootball

— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) September 22, 2019

India gained the lead in the 68th minute when Sridarth tapped the ball home off a rebound, but even with the hosts levelling at the 81st minute, the Indians were not overawed despite a hostile crowd backing the Uzbeks.