India U-17 women’s football team goes down to Mexico in Torneo tournament
Mexico netted one in each half to wrap up the match, with Katherin Sillas and Alice Gallegos getting on the scoresheet on Sunday night.
At the end it was a heart break. Indian boys put up a fight of their lives but went down 1-2 to Colombia and crashed out of contention in the FIFA U-17 World Cup at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Delhi on Monday.
Though in defeat Indians have every reason to be proud of their showing which not only showed that they not only can play superbly at this level but can also battle in the formidable rivals citadel. For the winners Juan Penaloza (49, 83) scored a brace and for India Jeakson Thounaojam earned the distinction of scoring the first ever World Cup goal for India in the 81 minute.
It was a match which will be cherished by over 35, 000 strong crowd which had flocked this iconic stadium. The crowd rose in unison in appreciation as the Indian put up a fight which nobody had expected.
Prior to the match, it was said that if India loses by even three goal margin that will be considered as good showing but the Amarjit and his boys proved them wrong. A slight lapse in concentration cost them a point. They battled it out with the Colombians toe to toe here after losing 3-0 to them in the four nations tournament in Mexico earlier this year. They made all the fans here extremely happy too despite the result.
The hosts made few changes in their starting XI. Defender Namit Deshpande based Maryland in the USA became the first NRI to play across any group for India. Defender Boris Singh who missed out in the first match due a previous suspension came in place of Jitender Singh. Rahim Ali, replaced Aniket Jadhav, while winger Komal Thatal was benched for Jeakson Thounaojam.
India took few minutes to settle down and then produced one of the most exhilarating display in the first session. They showed no sign of awe or nervousness and gave their much superior rivals run for their money.
The Indians played to a plan. Knowing their limitations they did not try to match the speed of the Colombians but slowed down the pace of the game. They followed coach Luis Matos’s strategy to the Amarjit and time and again broke the rhythm of the game and that clearly frustrated the South Americans.
The hosts were a totally different side compared to their opening match. Playing 4-4-1-1 format, they were strongly organized in defence and attacked whenever they got the opening. Twice they came close to scoring in this session and thrice goalkeeper brought off stunning saves.
The first chance for the hosts came in the 16th minute when Abhijit Sarkar darted past couple of defenders but goalkeeper Kevin Mier brought off a superb save.
The second chance came in the injury time before the interval. Boris and Jeakson in tandem created an opening for Rahul who was at the edge of the box but the mid-fielder’s powerful shot hit the bar.
In between Dheeraj under the bar performed creditably as he cleared a free kick and in the 36th minute he denied forward Deyman Cortes a certain goal with his acrobatic save.
Dheeraj again stood between Colombia and goal when he foiled a strike from Yadir Meneses from outside the box.
As the second session started Colombia surprised the hosts in the 49th minute when unmarked Juan Penaloza latched on to a ball on the edge of India’s box on the right. With a powerful right footer send the ball home.
Instead of getting demoralised, the goal spurred India and after many a moves and counter moves they scored their first ever World Cup goal. Off a corner by Stalin, on rushing Jeakson headed the ball home to send the crowd into delirium. This happened in 82 minute.
However a minute later the South American took advantage of the loss of concentration in the Indian camp and Juan Penaloza once again scored beating Anwar Ali, Namit Deshpande and the hapless Dheeraj to stun the crowd into silence.
India had the chance to equalize but the South Americans fell back to defend the lead till the end.
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