BY : News Gateway / FIFA U-17 World Cup / New Delhi /

India got their first taste of the ruthless nature of a top quality side on Friday as they lost 3-0 to the USA in New Delhi on Friday. Andrew Carleton’s brace and a volley from Chris Durkin did the job for the away side. India started off well, as their four man midfield and full backs didn’t allow the likes of Carleton, Tim Weah and Josh sargent run amock. When all else failed goalkeeper Dheeraj Moirangthem provided a formidable final line of defence.

This was India’s first taste of the ruthless nature of a top quality side. Andrew Carleton’s brace and a volley from Chris Durkin did the job for the away side. India started on a defensive note but they never looked to be out of their depth in those early minutes.

As coach Luis Norton de Mattos would say in tue post match press conference, India’s last pass was their undoing. “We started the game very shy in the last pass. We had to pose some problems to them and we didn’t because we were always not able to get the last pass correct.”

The United States were weary of the likes of Komal Thattal and Ninthoinganba Meetei catching the on the counter and so were carefull with their attacks themselves in the early minutes. But India’s inability to maintain possession for more than two passes seemed to embolden them. India were holding a highline throughout the first half. Tackles inside the box become more frequent in such a situation and India dared well in that department.