Thursday, August 9, 2018

India U-20's win over Argentina: What it means for Indian football?


India earned a 2-1 win against heavyweights Argentina in a COTIF Cup match played in Valencia.



India's U-20 football team scripted a memorable 2-1 win over traditional powerhouse Argentina, triggering a wave of celebration among Indians. The win is made more special by the fact that the Indian team played with 10 men for more than 40 minutes after Aniket Jadhav earned a red card in the 58th minute. But, in the end, Deepak Tangri's fourth-minute goal off a header and Anwar Ali's stunning free-kick in the 68th minute were enough to earn India a historic win despite Argentina pulling one goal back.


MATCH MATHS: This was India's debut participation in the COTIF Cup, which took place in Valencia this year. Before the Argentina match, India played two matches -- a loss against Mauritania and a draw against U-20 Fifa World Cup runners-up Venezuela. Argentina had already qualified for the semi-finals after winning their first three games and thus rested a couple of key players.


SQUAD STRENGTH OF THE OPPONENTS (ARGENTINA):

Coach: Lionel Scaloni (a 2006 World Cup winner)

Rested startlets: In-form players Alvaro Barreal amd Adolfo Gaich

The playing XI: Inter Milan striker Facundo Colidio, having already scored twice in the tournament, started at no.9. The squad also included Augustine Almendra,a highly-rated youngster. Francesco Lo Celso, the younger brother of PSG's Giovani Lo Celso, who plays for Argentine Primer Division club Rosario Central. Most of the squad members play in the Argentina First Division with Boca Juniors, Rosario Central, and San Lorenzo boasting three players each in the squad.

MOMENTS IN THE MATCH:

MINUTE 4 -- A lucky goal. India got a corner. Ninthoinganba Meetei swung the corner-kick that met Deepak Tangri's head. The shot should have been saved but the Argentinian goalkeeper fumbled the ball into his own net. INDIA 1-ARGENTINA 0

MINUTE 54 -- India's Aniket Jadhav is flashed the red card for a bad foul.

MINUTE 68 -- In a moment of pure inspiration, India's Anwar Ali curls a brilliantly struck free-kick that thunders into the underside of the bar's top right corner and into the net.

MINUTE 72 -- A chip goal by Argentina's Marinelli

EXTRA-TIME: An Argentinian effort rattles off the crossbar



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