India move into second round

BANGKOK, DEC 5: India managed to defeat Nepal by a lone second-half goal to claim full three points from their win in Group C to qualify ...

BANGKOK, DEC 5: India managed to defeat Nepal by a lone second-half goal to claim full three points from their win in Group C to qualify for the second round of the men’s football competition in the 13th Asian Games today.Hardworking mid-fielder Carlton Chapman fired in the winner just a minute on change of ends to enable the twice former champions inflict the second straight defeat on their South Asian neighbours and put them out of competition at the main stadium in Trang Province.

India, who went down fighting by a solitary goal against strong contenders Japan, finished second behind them in the three-team preliminary group and have been placed with defending champions Uzbekistan, Turmenistan and North Korea in Group I of the last 16 league stage.

Japan qualified as the group topper with full six points ahead on India while Nepal, who were thrashed 0-5 in their opening encounter, went out of reckoning.

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India now take on Turkmenistan in their opening second round match at Suphachalasai Stadium onDecember 7 and then meet Uzbekistan on December 9 at the same venue before clashing against North Korea on December 11.Uzbekistan emerged winners of Group C after mauling lowly Mongolia with Asian Games record 15-0. The former Soviet Republic topped the group on better goal average.

Kuwait, who had walloped Mongolia 11-0 in their opening match, finished second to qualify. Turkmenistan topped Group A after shocking South Korea and beating Vietnam while North Korea made it as the runners-up from Group E behind United Arab Emirates from the two-team group.

Uzbekistan’s record of 15-0 win bettered the previous highest score of 15-1, when the Philippines ran over Malaysia in 1962.

There was never any doubt Uzbekistan would win. Mongolia had been beaten 11-0 in their opening match against Kuwait.

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Iran and Qatar topped their respective groups on the final day of the preliminary round.

Gold medal favourites Iran struggled to overcome minnows Laos 6-1 with three goals in the last nine minutes, helping hidethe embarrassment of a below-par display.