India U-15 Football Team Lose 1-2 to Afghanistan in FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival

India’s under-15 men’s football team suffered a 1-2 defeat against Afghanistan in the quarterfinals for positions 81 to 88 at the FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Thursday. 

Despite creating several opportunities early in the match and finding a way back into the contest in the second half, the Blue Colts were unable to complete their comeback at the Hovsan Competition Complex Pitch 1A.

Mohammad Mustafa and Shahzada Sultani scored in the first half to give Afghanistan a two-goal advantage. Nibas Meetei Wahengbam pulled one back for India, but the team could not find a late equaliser.

The defeat means India will next face Kazakhstan in the semifinals for positions 85 to 88. Kazakhstan entered this stage after losing to Hungary.

The Blue Colts began with attacking intent and nearly took advantage of a defensive lapse in the sixth minute. R. Lalremruatfela delivered a low cross from the left, which the Afghanistan goalkeeper failed to hold cleanly. However, Victor Lalawmpuia could not react quickly enough to turn the loose ball into a scoring opportunity.

India continued to apply pressure as Afghanistan struggled to clear its lines. Nibas Meetei Wahengbam recovered possession inside the penalty area, but his attempted lay-off did not reach Lalawmpuia. The ball eventually fell to an unmarked Lalremruatfela, whose left-footed effort forced the goalkeeper into a diving save.

The Indian side threatened again three minutes later. Nibas produced a well-weighted through ball from the wing towards Lalawmpuia, who was looking to get behind the Afghanistan defence. The goalkeeper anticipated the danger, advanced off his line and gathered the ball before the Indian attacker could reach it.

India’s early attacking approach suggested that the Blue Colts could make their pressure count. However, Afghanistan proved more clinical when its opportunities arrived.

Afghanistan Capitalise on Defensive Errors

Against the run of play, Afghanistan took the lead in the 15th minute. Shahzada Sultani delivered a cross from the left into the penalty area, where Mohammad Mustafa escaped the marking of Birjit Singh Amom. Mustafa connected with a right-footed volley to put Afghanistan ahead.

The goal gave Afghanistan an advantage despite India’s promising start, and the Blue Colts were forced to chase the game.

Afghanistan doubled its lead in the 27th minute after pressing India into a costly mistake. Under pressure from Khair Mohammad Nazari, Nara Meitei Loushambam played a misplaced pass that was intercepted by Sultani.

The Afghanistan attacker took advantage of the opening, weaving past Indian defenders before unleashing a powerful near-post strike. The effort flew into the roof of the net, leaving India with a two-goal deficit.

The sequence underlined the difference between the teams in the first half. India had created openings through its attacking movement, but Afghanistan converted its chances and punished an error in possession.

India continued to look for a response and eventually reduced the deficit in the 37th minute. Lalremruatfela collected a long ball inside the penalty area and laid it off for Nibas, who finished to bring the Blue Colts back into the contest.

The goal offered India renewed hope after conceding twice and gave the team a platform to push for an equaliser. Nibas’s finish also rewarded the persistence of an Indian attack that had created opportunities from the opening stages.

With the score at 2-1, the contest remained within reach for India. The Blue Colts needed another goal to take something from the match, and their task was to turn their attacking pressure into a second breakthrough.

However, Afghanistan managed to protect its lead during the remaining minutes. India pushed forward in search of an equaliser but could not find the decisive finish, allowing Afghanistan to secure the victory.

The result ends India’s hopes of finishing higher in the current placement bracket, with the Blue Colts now preparing for their semifinal against Kazakhstan in the contest for positions 85 to 88.

India’s performance against Afghanistan offered contrasting lessons. The team showed attacking intent in the opening stages, created opportunities and responded after falling two goals behind. However, the defensive lapses that led to Afghanistan’s goals proved costly, while the inability to convert further chances prevented India from salvaging the match.

The upcoming fixture against Kazakhstan will give the young Indian side another opportunity to respond to the setback and finish its campaign strongly at the FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival.

Match result: India 1-2 Afghanistan

Scorers: India – Nibas Meetei Wahengbam (36’); Afghanistan – Mohammad Mustafa (15’), Shahzada Sultani (27’).

India’s next match: Semifinal for positions 85 to 88 against Kazakhstan.