India book Olympic qualifiers berth

They now take on Iraq in the opening qualifier match on February 28, which will be played in Jordan. A preparatory camp for the same will get underway from February 20 at Goa.

Those who converted for the hosts today in the all-important penalty shootout were Sunil Kumar, Debabrata Roy, NS Manju and Manjit Singh. However, the real hero turned out to be the in-form Indian goalie, Paul, who frustrated the visitors with two telling saves off Min Tun and Shi Thun.

The hosts though, should have lapped up the scoring opportunities that regularly presented themselves 8212; there were three distinct ones.

The few hundred spectators were frustrated to the hilt with strikers Manjit Singh and Sushil Singh wasting sitters one after another. Manjit8217;s inexcusable lapses, especially in the 31st and 74th minute, came despite the carelessness of the Myanmar custodian who was caught on the wrong foot on both occasions.

It was Manjit, however, who opened the scoring with a 39th minute strike. Capitalising on defender Win Thein8217;s momentary lapse to take possession of the ball inside the box, Manjit tapped it in.

The hosts enjoyed the lead for the next 51 minutes and just when it seemed that they were about to seal the match, Myanmar came back with an equaliser in the 92nd minute. Paul made a diving effort to save a powerful right-footer from Myo Thunt, but Thi Ha punched the deflection back towards the net, and Moe Win tapped it in.

Midfielder Syed Rahim Nabi stood out from the rest as he played some enterprising football, breaching the Myanmar defence every now and then from the left flank. The player gave the opposition defenders quite a few heart-in-the-mouth moments.

Myanmar8217;s young brigade, too, pierced open the Indian defence on more than one occasion. Two distinct chances came their way in the second half. But Paul, at his sublime best today, saw off the threats.