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That brings to an end India's run in the BRICS Cup.
If we were to go by results, it was a disappointment - just the one goal scored and no wins to our name. But what a performance the lads put in.
It was an U-17 tournament where we played the U-16 boys, and what a learning experience it was for the kids ahead of next year's U-17 FIFA World Cup in India.
Boris was brilliant down the right as usual, Sanjeev Stalin quietly impressive as the left-back and our set-piece expert. Aniket Jadhav, Aman Chetri and Komal Thatal were all fluid, dynamic and very entertaining, while our goalkeepers Dheeraj, and his stand in today, Nawaz were dependable and performed exceptionally well.
If we have a sore spot, it is in the middle of the park where Suresh and Amarjit have mixed brilliant positional awareness with sloppy passing in equal portions. Nicolai Adams needs to find a solution for this if we are to have an impact next year.
On the night, Brazil were just too strong for our lads - their patient recycling of the ball and incredibly fast switches into direct attack, a lesson that any team would be proud of. They have been brilliant throughout, and they should walk away with the BRICS cup with the minimum of fuss.
For any Indian who caught this, though, it will always be Komal Thatal's goal that stands out as the moment of the match. WHAT. A. GOAL.
On behalf of a very happy Sportskeeda football team, this is Anirudh Menon signing off.
It was an absolute pleasure bringing this to you tonight, thank you for reading.
Toodle-ooo
92' Nawaz hoicks a final clearance clear...
91' Joysana does supremely well to irritate and hassle the Brazilian backline and win the ball back. He tries to play in Rajip, but the sub has strayed offside
90' Final SUBSTITUTION for India -Rajip ON, a tired Aniket OFF
3 minutes added on
89' Brazil are absolutely killing it with their ball possession. This is a footballing lesson that the Indian lads will do well to imbue.
87' OH SURESH!!!! The captain runs in from the middle and recieves the ball at the edge of the box , but his cross doesn't pick out the head of Narendra. That was a great chance to put some quality service in.
86' Aniket cuts in from the right, but its a tired pass in.
85' Oh ho ho! Audacious from Oliviera as he tries to catch Nawaz out from somewhere near the half-way line
That was superbly played by Brazil. An immaculate through ball finds the tireless Vinicius and he produces a finish of the highest order. A touch, a chip, and the ball is nestling in the back of the Indian goal
82' Boris flies down the right, and crosses it deep. The brazilians all miss their headers and the ball reaches Narendra who is taken completely by surprise. THAT WAS A BIG CHANCE...but... Brazil immediately counter and...
81' Chetri's last contribution was to win a freekick, and Stalin swings in another teasing cross. It's well cleared by the Brazilians though
80' SUBSTITUTION for India - the utterly exhausted Aman Chetri OFF, Narendra ON
77' Brazil's recycling of possesion is something that India must surely learn from. Vinicius flashes a shot well wide to end that spell of Brazil possession
There was a sub before that Chetri shot - Matos ON for Stockl as the Brazilians try to lock this down.
74' OH AMAN CHETRI!!! HE LETS FLY WITH A LONG-RANGER... BUT ITS WIDE.
73' Joysana with more enterprising play moves the ball forward with a directness that is always entertaining. He releases Sanjeev Stalin down the left, and plays a beautiful ball around the Brazilian defence but Amarjit doesn't have the pace to reach it
71' OUCH!! Amarjit's foot gets stuck in a divot in the grass and he goes down yelling in pain. He's a tough kid though, and it's going take more than a rough patch of grass to keep him down.
70' Vinicius rampages down the left and flashes a cross right across the box. De Silva is waiting to tap it in, but Nawaz flies to his left (and in front) and pats the ball away. Luckily for the keeper, it doesnt fall at a Brazilian's foot
69' Brazil are killing this match expertly, passing it along and letting India tire themselves chasing the ball.
67' Amarjit is strong in the tackle, and disposses Oliviera with a crunching one. He moves it onto Thatal who finds Stalin overlapping on the left. The Kannadiga though is outnumbered and outmuscled
65' OH JOYSANA!!!! The substitute flies down the left wing, and cutting into the box he passes it to Aman Chetri. It's cut off, just. Very unselfish from the winger, but arguably he would have been better served to go for goal himself. It was a very similar position to the one from which Komal scored his goal
64' Suresh has been very erratic in the centre of the park, he needs to get his passing boots on. and fast.
63' SUBSTITUTION for India - Mawia OFF, Joysana ON
62' Brazil have moved to a back four - Thatal and Aniket have been so much trouble on the wings that the Brazilian coach had no other option. A minor victory for Indian footballer.
61' Stalin gives away a foul by niggling away at Lucas' ankles. India are pressing much higher, and much better now - but Brazil look oh so comfortable in possesion
60' Another one! SUBSTITUTION - the exceptional de Souza OFF, Oliviera ON
59' SUBSTITUTION - Lucas Halter on for Marcos Antonio
58' Nawaz's passing is awry - he is a goalkeeper, so we'll cut him some slack considering everyone else has been sloppy too - and Brazil have the ball back
57' OH MY! MIRANDA WITH THE GOAL AT HIS ABSOLUTE MERCY BLAZES OVER. He was two yards away, and only he will know how he missed it. The Indian defence went missing there, and Nawaz lets his back four know just what he thinks about that
55' de Silva runs on to a supremely brilliant touch from Antonio but he's called offside much to his consternation.
52' Boris goes on a skedaddle down the right, and sells a superb dummy before smashing it straight at a yellow shirt. That's a waste!!
51' Brazil are simply superb when it comes to switching gears. Lucas runs down the right, and whips it in. It's deflected away for a corner from which India launch a counter....
49' Pressure from Mawia wins India the ball back, and they try to set about passing the ball around themselves
47' Brazil pass it around the back as they try to exert their dominance. It's the switch to attack though that is so frighteningly brilliant. From nowhere, Leonard Alves is released down the left and he flashes a ball juuust wide of the far post.
45' India with the early running. Wins a corner almost immediately from Kick-off. Sanjeev plays it short with Boris, before he swings it in dangerously. It's cleared by Brazil, but not too far and India have another corner. This one, though, is rubbish and straight at the keeper
Peep! We're off for the second half!
Our 1st goal in the #BRICSU17 cup. Check out this awesome strike from Komal Thattal vs #Brazil#INDvBRA #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/nI6KCNlUgt
— football news india (@fni) October 13, 2016
I am still working on digesting Komal's goal. As an Indian football fan it's not something you're supposed to see. Brazilians score goals like that. People don't score it against them, certainly not Indians!
This is a brave new team, though, and it is simply, soul-stirringly, goosebump inducing.
Peep! Peep! Halftime!!
It's 2 - 1 to the visitors - a thoroughly deserved lead for the men in yellow. They have toyed with the Indian midfield and defence, and have played with a confidence that belies their young age. The goals they scored were very well taken and brilliantly worked out. It's not the goals though that has impressed the most - it is the precision and speed of their interplay. It's been mesmerising to watch on occasion.
What a goal it was though from Komal. It's one of those sights that will forever remain seared into the memories of those who witnessed it.
India will need to take heart from it, and notwithstanding the dangers of committing too many forward, need to attack with more conviction and purpose. On the few occasions that they have given Komal and Aniketh the ball in dangerous areas they have given the Brazilian defenders plenty of trouble.
If the second 45 is anything like the first, this should be a blinder!
Don't go anywhere folks. There are goals in this one, yet!
44' Brazil are knocking it around with supreme confidence here. India's strategy seems to be - if we get the ball, we lump it forward to the ever willing Chetri. Boris follows that strategy to the T, and Aman gives another fruitless chase. The lads need to get Komal and Aniket into the game, but Brazil are proving to be too powerful
41' Boris Singh Thangjam embarks on his first run down the right (unusual for the normally adventurous right back) - a mark of how much Brazil have pressed India back - but he overruns it in his enthusiasm, and Brazil have the ball back.
40' Brazil are pressing India right back, but Sanjeev Stalin wins a goalkick off Lucas. He then proceeds to spark another Indian attack, but his pass forward to Komal has just caught the Indian goalscorer offside. Komal has been a constant threat
Phew! What an exciting minute of football that was. Magnifique! More of this, please
37' Amarjit and his captain Suresh Singh exchange passes in the middle of the park, as India try to establish their usual passing rhythm. Leonard steps in for Brazil though, and sparks another Brazil counter. It is stopped almost immediately by a superb tackle from Amarjit. The midfielder releases Aniket down the right, and the pacy winger has everyone in yelow beaten for pace. His pass into the box is laid off by Mawia to Amarjit, but the Brazilians have regrouped and snuff out the threat
35' Sanjeev Stalin does brilliantly to read Lucas' intentions and intercept a dangerous throughball. His pass forward to Mawia finds the winger, but the little man is crowded out by the Brazilians
33' Oh my. Leonard Alves gets on the end of an intricate passing move but he passes the ball just past the far post. That would have been an absoilutely magnificient goal
31' Komal Thatal creates mass confusion down the Brazilian left, this time, and passes it into an unmarked Mawia in the penalty box. The midfielder looks surprised to be in so much space, and takes too much time on the ball - he's unceremoniously dispossed
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Peep! Peep!! FULLTIME
Brazil - 3, India - 1
That was supremely entertaining