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What's the story?
In what can be considered a huge victory in the broader sense, the Indian U-16 national football team fought bravely and picked up a well-deserved goalless draw against Spanish giants Valencia in a massive moment for the colts.
The team under Bibiano Fernandes performed admirably from the get-go and defended like their lives depended on it, to continue their wonderful run on the road to the AFC Championship in Malaysia later this year.
In case you didn't know...
The Indian U-16 football team is currently on an overseas tour in order to gain exposure and train in foreign circumstances before the big tournament in Malaysia commences in a few months time. The team has already picked up some huge wins and are in Spain as we speak, training and playing big teams as they prepare for the AFC Championship.
The heart of the matter
The likes of Bekey, Givson and Gurkirat all had chances in this game against Valencia but could not break the deadlock. More importantly, however, India's defence stood firm and refused to allow any offensive attempt from Valencia to penetrate the back line.
With a whole lot of support from the management staff, the team managed to get through the game and notch up a confidence-building draw against one of European football's heavyweights.
What's next?
After this monumental performance, India will now hope to carry that form through to the next few games that they play, proving in turn, what a legitimate threat they really are.
Author's take
The sheer magnitude of this draw cannot be overstated and under current management, the team just keeps going from strength to strength. The AFC Championships couldn't come sooner for this talented bunch of players.
