AFC U-17 Asian Cup: Malemngamba Thokchom’s long-range stunner helps India hold Vietnam to a draw

India came back from behind to draw 1-1 against Vietnam in their opening Group D match of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup, on Saturday.

Long Vu had put Vietnam in the lead towards the end of the first half, but India left-back Malemngamba Thokchom equalised in the 69th minute, to salvage a point for India.

India’s next two opponents in the group are Uzbekistan and Japan. The other match in the group between Japan and Uzbekistan ended in a 1-1 draw.

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???????? Malemngamba Singh's goal was a volley masterpiece ????️ #AFCU17 | #INDvVIE pic.twitter.com/kRvobprfnu— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) June 17, 2023

It was a cautious, yet controlling start by the Blue Colts, who enjoyed possession of the ball for large parts of the play in the Vietnam half.

Early free-kicks on either flank for India meant that Vanlalpeka Guite and Lalpekhlua Ralte could put in dangerous balls into the Vietnam box, but the chances were headed away.

The result of a corner by Danny Meitei was the same, when his aerial ball, aimed at Ricky Meetei, landed on a Vietnamese head.

Akash Tirkey had a great chance when he dribbled past two defenders and blasted it goalwards, but the ball went a foot wide.

A couple of minutes past the half hour mark, Vietnam had their first real chance of...

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