By IANS,
Charleston (West Virginia) : The India under-16 football team maintained its impressive run on its US tour by winning its sixth consecutive match with an 11-1 verdict against the Western Virginia Olympic Development Team at the Schoenbaum Stadium here.
Malasawmfela and Harpreet Bedi scored a hat trick each in India’s win Saturday.
India opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a goal from Lalrindikam, who was fed inside the box by Biru Yadav. Dika smashed the ball into the net for the lead.
The hosts’ goalkeeper Cleavenger was injured after making five saves and was replaced by Robbie Gerbo in the 23rd minute. Gerbo’s decision in the 37th minute to charge outside the penalty area proved costly as he failed to beat Prem Kumar, who played a back pass to Bedi whose long range effort kissed defender Ryan McWatters’ scalp on its way to the goal.
Malasawmfela, who has had a brilliant outing on the tour, found himself on the end of a Subhojit Mazumdar cross to the near post. Malasawmfela chipped it past a helpless looking Gerbo. Malasawmfela then set another for Prem Kumar.
With the win, India maintained an all-win record on its practice-cum-exposure trip to US as part of India’s preparations for the Asian under-16 championships in Uzbekistan in October.