AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers: 2 more games to go: Igor Stimac after victory

Dubai, October 25

After India beat Oman 2-1 in their opening fixture of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers on Sunday, head coach Igor Stimac said the players’ tactical discipline made him “extremely happy”.

“The entire credit goes to the boys especially given the fact that they didn’t have much time to prepare for this,” Stimac said. “The togetherness they displayed on the pitch, and their tactical discipline makes me extremely happy. But this is just one game, and there are two more to go,” he added.

The victory was India’s first-ever against Oman at the U-23 level. But the coach wasn’t willing to read into it. “I have told my boys to forget this result. It’s always important how you leave a tournament, and not how you start it. We concentrate on the next game, and we go one by one,” Stimac said.

India joined the Kyrgyz Republic at the top of Group E with equal points and an identical goal difference. India are scheduled to face hosts UAE on Wednesday in their next fixture. — PTI