VASCO: The United States of America thrashed India 4-0 in the second match of AIFF Youth Cup at the Tilak Maidan, Vasco, on Thursday.
Nicolai Adam benched Aniket Jadhav and Sanjeev Stalin for the first time in the tournament and went in with Aman Chhetri as the lone striker up-front.
The Indians began on the front foot, passing the ball with efficiency. The first chance of the game came in the 7th minute when Khumaanthem Meetei unleased a 30-yard shot which was saved well by the USA goalkeeper.
The first 25 minutes of the game had no major chances for either side with large parts of the game being played in midfield.
However, the United States drew first blood in the 27th minute courtesy of a tap in finish by William Sands. It was Andrew Carlton who played a low cross from the left and Sands timed his run to perfection to score from point blank range.
USA worked the channels well and did not miss out on any opportunity to cross a ball into a dangerous area.
India’s defence struggled with USA’s aerial bombardment and their effort bore fruit in the 39th minute as the Americans doubled their lead. It was the combination of Andrew and William yet again that produced the goal again, this time, it was Carlton’s left aerial cross which was headed into the back of the net by William.
USA made it 3-0 in the 45th minute courtesy of Chandler Vaughan’s tap in finish from close distance.
At half-time, Nicolai Adam’s men were looking down to their second defeat in three games. The United States began the second half in the same way they ended the first and wasted no time to make it 4-0. Kevin Negrete scored in the 55th minute from point blank range after Arturo Vasquez sent a perfectly timed low cross.
India’s second chance came in only the 77th minute when Amarjit Kiyam took a shot on goal from 25 yards which produced a comfortable save from USA’s shot stopper. This was India’s first chance in fifty minutes of game time.
