India end U17 WC run with 04 loss to Ghana
West African team tops group A after leaving hosts dazed with speed and power
NEW DELHI: Rank outsiders India ended their maiden FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign in a cry of pain and agony as they were handed a 0-4 thrashing by two-time champions Ghana in their final group match here on Thursday. The Indians played their hearts out in the final Group A game but that was not enough as formidable Ghana outplayed them in all departments. The scoreline, though, would not tell the exact story.
NEWDELHI: The atmosphere at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday was no less vibrant than the last two India matches in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The 52,000-strong crowd was behind the hosts for the entire game and every move was met with thunderous cheers.
However, the only thing missing was the fighting spirit that had become the trademark of the Indian football team in the FIFA U-17 World Cup as the hosts were brushed aside 4-0 by Group A toppers Ghana.
Amarjit Singh and Co had no answer to Ghana’s pacy attacks and the big defeat meant the hosts’ run at the FIFA U-17 World Cup ended with a whimper.
Before their last Group A game, the Indian players impressed everyone with their determination on the pitch and the crowd had the same expectations. But twice winners Ghana were far too superior, and sadly for the New Delhi crowd, there was no miracle at the end of 90 minutes as India’s journey in their first FIFA World Cup of any kind ended.
“Ghana were the strongest team in our group and today, their full-backs and wingers were brilliant. The difference between
› I am very proud of how the players performed in the tournament and they have learnt a lot from the three matches. L.N. DE MATOS, India coach
the two teams was too big. Although we were able to provide some fightback, we were outplayed in the second half,” India coach Luis Norton de Matos said.
The hosts were outplayed from the first minute. The two Ghanaian wingers -- Sadiq Ibrahim and Edmund Arko Mensah -- dribbled past the Indian full-backs with ease and although Eric Ayiah did not look in good touch, the gap in quality between the teams was apparent. The Indian defence was breached in the sixth minute when Ayiah found the net with a tap-in but the hosts were saved by offside flag. Ghana did not lose focus and within the next 10 minutes, Ibrahim Sulley and Issac Gyamfi came close to scoring.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 43rd minute when Eric Ayiah found the net. The Ghana skipper capitalised on a lucky rebound and his close range effort gave no chance to the keeper Dheeraj. Ghana led only 1-0 at the interval, but their dominance was clear from the fact that they had four shots on target while India struggled to even reach the opposition’s final third.
The second half was no different as the hosts looked clueless against the pace of Ghana and the Africans did not take much time to find their second goal. It was striker Eric Ayiah who received a measured pass from Edmund Arko-Mensah and a controlled left-footed finish doubled his tally. The misery did not stop there as India struggled to retain possession beyond 3-4 passes and Ghana substitutes — Richard Danso and Emmanuel Toku scored late to hand the hosts their biggest loss of the tournament.