89th-Minute Heroics Sink Yemen as India U20 Men March into AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Unbeaten

In the latest sports news, the India U20 Men have capped off their domestic preparation camp in spectacular fashion. During their second closed-door India vs Yemen Friendly on Sunday, August 23, the Blue Colts secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory thanks to a dramatic 89th-minute strike from Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam at the Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru.

Following a cagey 0-0 draw against Yemen just three days earlier, Mahesh Gawali’s side came into the second fixture determined to find a breakthrough. The match remained tightly contested for nearly the entire 90 minutes until Gunleiba delivered the decisive blow just before the final whistle.

The late victory puts the finishing touches on a highly successful training camp for Indian Football. Over the course of four exhibition matches in August, the Blue Colts remained completely unbeaten. They recorded 3-0 and 1-0 victories against Singapore earlier in the month, followed by the draw and victory against Yemen.

Most impressively, the defense was an impenetrable wall, registering four consecutive clean sheets across all four fixtures.

Organized by the AIFF, this string of friendlies served as the crucial final tune-up ahead of a massive continental challenge.

With their domestic preparations now complete and confidence riding high, the team will depart for Tashkent on August 26. Their focus shifts entirely to the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan from August 31 to September 6. Drawn into a challenging group, India will open their qualification campaign against Syria on August 31, followed by clashes with hosts Uzbekistan and regional rivals Bangladesh.