FIFA U-17 World Cup: Day 1, reality bites as India lose 0-3 to USA

India conceded two goals in the second half of the match. (Source: AP)

India got their first taste of the ruthless nature of a top quality side as they lost 3-0 to the USA in New Delhi on Friday. Andrew Carleton’s closing goal and a volley from Chris Durkin did the job for the away side after Josh Sergent successfully converted penalty in the first half. India started off well, as their four man midfield and full backs didn’t allow the likes of Carleton, Tim Weah and Josh sargent run amock. When all else failed goalkeeper Dheeraj Moirangthem provided a formidable final line of defence.

As coach Luis Norton de Mattos would say in the post match press conference, India’s last pass was their undoing. “We started the game very shy in the last pass. We had to pose some problems to them and we didn’t because we were always not able to get the last pass correct.”

The United States were weary of the likes of Komal Thattal and Ninthoinganba Meetei catching the ball on the counter and so were carefull with their attacks themselves in the early minutes. But India’s inability to maintain possession for more than two passes seemed to embolden them. India were holding a highline throughout the first half. Tackles inside the box become more frequent in such a situation and India dared well in that department.

One noteworthy moment was when Rahul Kannoly took the ball away from a dangerous Tim Weah. But the pressure did snap and Jitendra Singh fouled Josh Sargent. The Indian players remonstrated with the referee but replays showed that Jitendra was woefully far away from the ball. Andrew Carleton stepped up and coolly converted it.