Lee Min-soo (right) surges past India skipper Bikramjit Singh during Korea Republic's emphatic 5-2 win.TASHKENT – Lee Chang scored twice as Korea Republic kicked off their AFC U-16 Championship bid with an emphatic 5-2 win over India at MHSK Stadium on Saturday.
In the tournament opener Korea, the 2002 winners, scored at the start of each half through Kim Dong-jin and Lee Chang.
A header from captain Rim Chang-woo and a strike from Lee Chang either side of the hour mark comfortably saw off the India challenge in the Uzbekistan capital.
Lalrindika Ralte grabbed two late consolations for India while substitute Son Heung-min rounded off the scoring for Korea.
Korea made an ideal start to the contest as they opened the scoring after just three minutes when a quick free quick from just outside the area caught the India defence cold and Kim Dong-jin found space on the left to rifle a first time rising shot across goalkeeper Jayanta Paul.
India were almost handed an equaliser just before the half-hour mark as a long ball over the top landed between goalkeeper and defence and as Korea custodian Kwon Tae-ahn hesitated, Prem Kumar got a toe to the ball but poked his effort narrowly wide.
Lee Chang wasted two chances to add to the lead before the break but Korea made an equally impressive start to the second half as just two minutes after the restart Lee Chang effortlessly weaved his way into the India area past four defenders before rolling the ball past a helpless Paul.
Four minutes later captain Rim Chang-woo headed home Lee Jong-ho’s left-wing cross to extend Korea’s advantage.
Moments after replacing Mun Hyo-min, substitute Son broke to the byline and sent a low cross across the face of goal which was bundled home by Lee Chang at the far post a minute after the hour mark.
Korea’s bid for a clean sheet was ended with 21 minutes remaining as Ralte fired home from inside the area after an indirect free-kick was awarded when the Korean goalkeeper was adjudged to have collected a back pass.
Son restored the advantage after 73 minutes, but Ralte converted a free-kick from inside the area with three minutes remaining after the Korean goalkeeper was adjudged to have held onto the ball too long.
Source:The AFC.com
