India's U-17 World Cup Dreams Hanging by a Thread After Lebanon Defeat
The Indian Under-17 football team faced a significant setback in their quest for Asian Cup qualification after suffering a 2-0 defeat against Lebanon at the Eka Arena in Ahmedabad on Friday. The loss puts India's progression hopes in a precarious position as they head into their final group stage match.
Match Breakdown: How Lebanon Secured Victory
The match began with Lebanon showing early attacking intent, nearly opening the scoring in the fifth minute when forward Rami Malaeb struck the woodwork with a powerful free-kick. Despite weathering the early storm, India couldn't prevent Lebanon from breaking the deadlock in the 26th minute when midfielder Antoine Assaf found the net with a clinical left-footed strike.
Lebanon doubled their advantage just twelve minutes later in the 38th minute through Paul Maakaroun, who capitalized on India's defensive vulnerabilities. The two first-half goals proved sufficient for the visitors to secure all three points and conclude their Group D campaign.
Group D Standings and India's Path to Qualification
With this victory, Lebanon finished their group stage matches with six points from four games, though they remain out of contention for the finals. Meanwhile, India currently sits with four points from three matches, setting up a dramatic final encounter.
In the other Group D match played on Friday, Iran strengthened their position by defeating Palestine 3-1, taking their tally to seven points. The group scenario now sets up a high-stakes showdown between India and Iran scheduled for Sunday.
India must defeat Iran in their final match to have any chance of progressing to the 16-team AFC U-17 Asian Cup tournament scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2026. According to tournament rules, if two teams finish level on points, the qualification spot will be determined based on their head-to-head record.
The Indian colts now face what amounts to a knockout match against Iran, with their entire qualification campaign resting on this crucial encounter. The team will need to regroup quickly and deliver their best performance to keep their Asian Cup dreams alive.
