Full-time! India lost to the USA by 0-3 in the opening match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Friday.
GOAL! In a counter-attack, George Acosta struck the third goal for the US U-17 team in the 84th minute.
Indian football team thanks the spectators decorating JLN stands. “The crowd firmly behind the boys with their unrelenting support,” reads a tweet.
The US Embassy in New Delhi, India wished both the teams ‘luck’, sharing a picture of the shimmering FIFA U-17 World Cup trophy.
60′ Even after crossing the hour-mark and the scoreline remains 2-0 in the favour of the visitors.
55′ Tim Weah tries his luck from the outside of the box but no luck for George Weah’s son.
GOAL! The US extend their lead to 2-0 as Chris Durkin nets a brilliant goal in the 51st minute. India failed to clear the corner properly and paid the price for that.
In a Group B tie at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, Paraguay and Mali were 2-2 at half-time.
45′ USA on top in the first-half. So far, India have shown enough promises before heading to the dressing room. The young colts will look for an equaliser in the second-half.
Meanwhile, the Indian football team shares a video of the electrifying moment, when the two team stood for the national anthem.
40′ Komal passes to Aniket to outrun the US defender before it gets miscued.
GOAL! Joshua Sargent scores in the 30th minute as the USA take 1-0 lead against India.
20′ Both the teams look for a desperate goal. Every Indian move is being cheered by the home crowd.
Coach Luis Norton de Matos is busy giving instructions from the sidelines.
The spectators at the Jawaharlal Stadium are roaring ‘INDIA, INDIA’ chant from the stands.
10′ India have shown grit and determination in the first 10 minutes. No goal has been scored from either side.
India’s line-up for the opening match against the USA:
The football fans have glued their eyes to the television sets as the nation hosts its first-ever FIFA tournament — U-17 World Cup — starting with India taking on the United States in a Group A tie at the Jawaharlal Stadium, New Delhi.
Under the captaincy of Amarjit Singh Kiyam, India’s U-17 team will take on the USA in the third match of the day.
Earlier, Ghana defeated Colombia 1-0 in Group A, while New Zealand vs Turkey Group B tie concluded in a 1-1 draw.
More than sixty years after India declined the invitation to participate in the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay (when it was an invitational tournament), because of lack of finances and players not used to playing in shoes, the country would be fielding a team in a World Cup.
Hosting the mega event, India became the fifth Asian country ~ after China, Japan, South Korea and UAE ~ to host the tournament which was started in 1985.
Read the match preview here:
U-17 World Cup: Fans hope for miracle as India hosts football extravaganza
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the world for U-17 World Cup, saying: “A warm welcome and best wishes to all teams taking part in the @FIFAcom. I am sure #FIFAU17WC will be a treat for football lovers.”
