NEW DELHI: India Under-17 Men's National Team missed 1-3 against a U-16/19 mixed side of VFB Stuttgart (a football club in Germany) in a training game at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Stuttgart. The winners led 2-0 at halftime.
The India U-17 team, coached by Bibiano Fernandes, is currently in Germany to play a few warm-up matches after playing a number of practise matches in Spain.
The AFC U-17 Asian Cup final rounds will be held in Thailand next month, and the Blue Colts are getting ready for them. They will compete in Pathum Thani and Bangkok as members of Group D against Vietnam (June 17), Uzbekistan (June 20), and Japan (June 23).
After engaging in some evenly matched action in the opening minutes of the game, in which a Thanglalsoun Gangte shot was saved by the opposition goalie and a close-range attempt by Vanlalpeka Guite was unsuccessful, the home team took the lead in the 22nd minute.
Sahil, the Indian custodian, was frustrated as Paul Koenig headed home as the VFB Stuttgart team won a corner. Four minutes later, Laurin Ulrich attempted to take a direct free kick, but Sahil was alert beneath the bar and stopped him. Sahil, however, was helpless when Karlo Kuranyi converted a penalty kick in the 34th minute to give the Stuttgart team a double-digit advantage.
In the second half, Fernandes made a few adjustments, but India's luck didn't alter. Instead, soon after the game resumed, Stuttgart was assessed a few more penalties. While Sahil was able to stop one in the 52nd minute, he was helpless against Tom Barth's shot two minutes later.
Yohann Torres was penalised for handling the ball within the penalty box in the 80th minute, and Shashwat converted the ensuing penalty to give the Indians cause for celebration.
India pressed hard in the final few minutes, buoyed by the goal, and twice came close to scoring. Had Rohen and Shashwat taken advantage of the opportunities that were presented to them, the score would have been much more honourable for the visitors.
India: Sahil (GK); Dhanajit Ashangbam (Ricky Meetei, 50), Surajkumar Singh, Mukul Panwar, and Malemngamba Thokchom; Danny Meitei (Akash Tirkey, 60), Gurnaj Singh, Lalpekhlua Ralte (Gagocha Chungkham, 65), Vanlalpeka Guite (captain) (Rohen Singh, 86) and Korou Singh; Thanglalsoun Gangte (Shashwat, 50).
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