U 17 World Cup | USA down India 3-0 in their tournament opener
Despite putting up a valiant performance, India went down 3-0 to the United States their first group match at the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in New Delhi. For the visitors, Josh Sargent, Chris Durkin, and Andrew Carleton scored a goal apiece to give their team a perfect start to the campaign.
The USA started the game in a pretty dominant fashion attacking mostly from the left-flank as Tim Weah acted as the cheif tormentor, but he failed to finish off any of the chances. After a thrilling first 20 minutes, game's pace slowed down but the Indians kept trying to pass the ball. India were undone when Jitendra Singh’s lunge on Sargent in the box was penalised as the referee blew for a spot-kick on which USA capitalized and secured their first goal in the evening as America went to the second half with a 1-0 lead.
In the 51st minute of the game, Chris Durkin effected a wicked deflection off Anwar Ali, to give his team a 2-0 lead in the match. India had their chances as well but failed to convert them. Anwar Ali' came the closest to scoring the first ever goal for India in a World Cup game but his shot came off the cross bar. Coincidentally, the US recovered the ball which found its way to Andrew Carleton who put the game to rest with a well taken goal to hand the visitors a 3-0 lead.