Tanzania beats India 3-1 in Youth Cup

The home team failed to impress in the midfield and misplaced quite a few passes that allowed the opposition to take control of the match.

The visiting players used their better height to their advantage and played long balls to trouble the Indian defence who succumbed to the pressure.

India suffered a 3-1 drubbing at the hands of Tanzania in the Under-16 AIFF Youth Cup international football tournament here on Tuesday.

Tanzania now has four points from a win and a draw while India has one point from a draw and a loss.

India started well, moving the ball on the flanks and had an early chance to take the lead but Aniket Jahav failed to direct his shot on target off a cross from Sanjeev Stalin.

Few minutes later, Tanzania keeper Ramadhani Kabwili had to make a diving save to deny Khumanthem Meetei from scoring off a Boris Thagjam pass.

The visiting players used their better height to their advantage and played long balls to trouble the Indian defence who succumbed to the pressure and conceded a goal in the 20th minute.

A long ball from defender Ally Hussein Msengi saw Maziku Amadi Ngawembela free inside the Indian box. Ngawembela controlled the ball an essayed an angular shot that found the far corner of the net.

The home team failed to impress in the midfield and misplaced quite a few passes that allowed the opposition to take control of the match.

The Indian defence crumbled once again in the 29th minute when defender Mohammed Sarif Khan, trying to clear a Dickson Nickson Job cross, shot into his own goal.

India reduced the margin in the 37th minute when Komal Thatal tapped the ball into the net after rival keeper Ramadhani failed to collect Aniket’s cross. The ball slipped from the hands of the Tanzanian goalkeeper and Komal did the rest.

Soon after the interval, Tanzania made it 3-1 in the 47th minute when an Asad Ali Juma free kick beat keeper Mohammad Nawaz to find the net.

The Indians never recovered thereafter as the visitor dominated and made repeated forays mostly from the right with substitute Yohana Mkomola Shabani Zuberi Ada combining well on the right flank. Indian keeper Nawaz who brought off a couple diving saves to deny substitute Yohana Mkomola from scoring.

India coach Nicolai Adam, who was constantly having altercations with the fourth referee, got the marching orders from referee Akash Jackson in the latter part of the second half as he did not have his accreditation card in the dug out.

India next plays the United States on Thursday evening.