NEW DELHI: The Indian U-14 boy’s team went down fighting and lost 0-1 against hosts Tajikistan in the AFC U-14 Regional Festival of Football 2015, at the FC Istiklol Academy ground in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Saturday.
In the 30th minute, against the run of play the Indian colts conceded, as a low cross found an unmarked Tajik striker who slotted the ball home.
Trailing by a solitary goal at half-time did not deter Indian spirits as the U-14 boys responded by a wave of fluid and clinical attacks right from the start of the second half.
Within minutes of the second half, the Indian colts fostered a brilliant opportunity to equalize their deficit as an unmarked Sanjeev was found in Tajik’s 18 yard box by Jitu’s long through ball, but the opportunity went abegging as Sanjeev blasted it inches over the crossbar.
The dying embers of the match witnessed a barrage of Indian attacks, but the Tajik defence was able to thwart them away. The Indian colts face Iran next on Monday.
