The Asian Age

Sydney FC too hot for India colts

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

India’s U- 23 football team went down 0- 3 to threetime Australian A- League champions Sydney FC in a friendly game in Sydney on Tuesday.

The star- studded Sydney FC had to wait till the 37th minute to open the scoring through Brosquey before Adam Le Fondre doubled the gap within six minutes at the Macquarie University Sports Field.

The Indians improved after the breather but a low strike from Trent Buhagiar in the 86th minute sealed the tie for the Sky Blues.

Coach Stephen Constantin­e rang as many as five changes to the starting eleven from the last match against APIA Tigers FC as Davinder Singh, Jerry Lalrinzual­a, Isaac Vanmalsawm­a, Hitesh Sharma and Vinit Rai made way for Subhasish Bose, Salam Ranjan Singh, Nandha Kumar, Germanpree­t Singh and Anirudh Thapa respective­ly.

As the coach predicted earlier, the hosts started dictating from the word go but their efforts were thwarted by a resilient Indian defence until the 37th minute when Brosquey headed home a cross from Michael Zullo.

Six minutes later, renowned

Sydney FC had to wait till the 37th minute to open the scoring through Brosquey before Adam Le Fondre doubled the gap within six minutes

English attacker, Adam Le Fondre found the back of the net from a close range to double the lead before the teams headed to the dressing room.

After the breather, Constantin­e tweaked in three changes in the form of Lallianzua­la Chhangte, Vinit Rai and Manvir Singh withdrawin­g Nandha Kumar, Germanpree­t Singh and Farukh Choudhary respective­ly.

After the hour- mark, Ashique Kuruniyan came very close to break the deadlock but his firing shot went off the target.

Constantin­e said they wanted a “tough game” and this one was nothing less than a “very good lesson” for the team.

“We knew very well that it was going to be a tough test against a terrific team and certainly, it was. Our boys were a little surprised with their speed and constant movement but overall, it was a very good lesson for us”, Constantin­e said.

“We got better as the game progressed and created a few opportunit­ies as well. Overall, we wanted a tough game and we were presented with one. Now, we know more about ourselves as a team and of course, as individual­s.”

 ??  ?? Action from a friendly between India U- 23 team and hosts Sydney FC on Tuesday. The hosts won 3- 0.
Action from a friendly between India U- 23 team and hosts Sydney FC on Tuesday. The hosts won 3- 0.

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