Sunil, Robin, Alwyn on target as India win friendly

Shanghai, Aug 29 (IANS) The Asian Games-bound India U-23 national football team started their China 'Exposure Tour' with a convincing 3-0 win over Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Sainty at the Century Park here Friday.

Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh and substitute Alwyn George were on target either side of halftime for India who prior to this tour drew a friendly series against Pakistan 1-1.

One-time runnersup Jiangsu are currently placed seventh in the Chinese Super League table having garnered 31 points from 21 matches so far. They fielded their second string side in this match.

India started the match brightly winning three corners in the space of the first 20 minutes. But all three takes from Dempo’s Mandar Rao Desai failed to cause any danger in the opposition ranks.

But that was not to be so for long. A free-kick from 25 yards was craftily swerved in at the far post by Chhetri with the match only 28 minutes old. 

Soon after the Indian captain had another glorious chance to double the lead from the penalty spot after Robin Singh was brought down inside the 18-yard box. But the AIFF Player of the Year pulled his spot-kick wide.

Robin Singh, Bengaluru FC No.9 scored in the other side of the half when he leaped highest to powerfully head the ball into the back of the net from Mandar’s perfectly weighed right-wing cross.

The hosts tried to comeback with a flurry of attacks in the end but it was India’s day. Mandar was in the thick of things again, this time laying the ball for Dempo midfielder Alwyn who crowned India’s day with a delicate back heel poke from close range.

India next play another side from the Super League, Shanghai East India Sep 6.