Komal Thatal of India battles with Chris Gloster of United States of America during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 group A match | Photo: Getty imagesNew Delhi: India's campaign at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup got off to a poor start as they suffered a 0-3 defeat to the United States in a Group A match here on Friday. Josh Sargent (30th minute) put the US in the lead by converting a penalty in the first half.
Chris Durkin (51st) and Andrew Carleton (84th) rounded off the tally after the break.
The Indians gave a good account of themselves in the first half although the visitors dominated from start to finish and should have scored within the first 10 minutes.
India's star winger Komal Thatal was superb down the left, repeatedly troubling the American defenders with his dribbling skills.
Komal Thatal of India reacts during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 group A match between India and USA at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium | Photo: Getty imagesIndia's other winger Ninthoiganba Meetei also played well with his speedy runs down the right. Abhijit Sarkar also did well in the midfield.
Indian goalkeeper Dheeraj Moirangthem was in superb form, coming up with several superb saves to reduce the margin of defeat.
The hosts played a defensive, counter-attacking style with Aniket Jadhav as the lone striker. The Indian boys however, suffered from a lack of co-ordination in the final third which resulted in a lot of mispasses and made the job easier for the US defenders.
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India lose 0-3 to USA
Players of India and USA vie for the ball during their U-17 FIFA World Cup football match in New Delhi on Friday. PTI
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India lose 0-3 to USA
Indian goalkeeper Dheeraj fails to save as USA's Carleton scores the 3rd goal against India in their opening U-17 FIFA World Cup match in New Delhi on Friday. PTI
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India lose 0-3 to USA
India's Komal Thatal tries to stop a USA player during the opening game. Photo: J. Suresh
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India lose 0-3 to USA
Crowd cheer during the U-17 FIFA World Cup game between India and United States of America. Photo: J Suresh
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India lose 0-3 to USA
Prime minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd during the opening ceremony of FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Friday. PTI
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India lose 0-3 to USA
Prime minister Narendra Modi watches the match between India and USA after the opening ceremony of FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in New Delhi. PTI
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India lose 0-3 to USA
Prime minister Narendra Modi felicitates Indian footballers Sunil Chhetri (right) and Baichung Bhutia during the opening ceremony. PTI
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India lose 0-3 to USA
USA players celebrate after scoring 2nd goal against India. PTI
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India lose 0-3 to USA
Indian team poses for a photo before their opening World Cup game against United States of America. Photo: J. Suresh
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The Indian defence came under pressure right at the start when India goalkeeper Dheeraj Moirangthem produced a superb save to deny American striker Josh Sargent from close range.
Dheeraj was called upon to make another save in the 15th minute when an attempted clearance saw the ball bounce off US winger Ayo Akinola and almost sneak in at the near post.
The US defence came under pressure in the 25th minute when India striker Aniket Jhadav dribbled into the rival penalty area and ultimately earned a corner.
Josh Sargent of USA celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot to make it 0-1 during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India | Photo: Getty imagesThe Americans took the lead when the referee inexplicably awarded a penalty after Indian defender Jitendra Singh tugged at the jersey of Sargent inside the penalty box. Sargent stepped forward to send the ball into the net as Dheeraj dived the other way.
The Americans almost doubled their lead shortly after half-time when Akinola dribbled into the penalty area and picked out Sargent inside the six-yard box.
Dheeraj however, displayed excellent reflexes to deny Sargent's close range attempt with a diving save.
The hosts however could not rejoice for long as a short while later, the Indian defence failed to clear a high ball inside the box and Durkin punished them with an impeccable finish.
The second goal seemed to affect the morale of the hosts as their defence started to make mistakes.
Timm Weah of USA and Abhijit Sarkar of India battle for the ball during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 group A match | Photo: Getty imagesIndia got a good chance in the 56th minute when a through ball from Sarkar found Thatal whose attempt went over the bar.
India's best chance of the match came in the 84th minute when Anwar Ali's shot from outside the penalty box beat American goalkeeper Justin Garces but hit the underside of the crossbar.
But the third goal for the US came off the subsequent counter-attack as Carleton latched on to a long ball out of the American defence and rounded past Dheeraj to find the net.
Read more: FIFA U-17 World Cup | FIFA U-17 World Cup: Ghana beat Colombia 1-0; Kiwis hold Turkey
