Underwhelming India droop to 8-0 defeat to ruthless USA in FIFA U-17 WWC debut

The end result was anticipated. The method and scoreline, not a lot.

It took the USA simply 9 minutes to get on the scoresheet of their opening 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup match in opposition to hosts India on the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. And as soon as they began, you had a sense that it was going to be an extended evening for India.

USA produced an attacking masterclass at hand India an 8-0 drubbing, their biggest-ever win at an U-17 World Cup. It was additionally India’s worst-ever defeat on the U-17 stage.

Playing in opposition to a nation that has gained the senior World Cup 4 instances and the U-20 World Cup thrice was by no means going to be straightforward for the Indian group particularly since a lot of the gamers had by no means performed a aggressive worldwide match earlier than.

So whereas the end result of the match was by no means unsure, you’d count on this Indian group, after having had as many as 250 classes below head coach Thomas Dennerby and publicity excursions in Italy, Norway and Spain, to do one thing extra than simply attempt to clear the ball from their very own field.

So underwhelming was India’s efficiency, that they didn’t handle a single shot on the USA objective in your complete match.

Big event nerves

Perhaps it was the event that bought to the Indian gamers. After all, they’re the primary Indian ladies gamers to compete at a FIFA occasion. If it simply was nerves, then it merely didn’t settle all through the 90 minutes.

FULL TIME! Tonight’s motion in Bhubaneswar attracts to a detailed.

FT Score: 🇮🇳 0-8 🇺🇸#INDUSA ⚔️ #U17WWC 🏆 #AgainTheBlue 💙 #ShePower 👧 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Q4JFwpTwEK

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 11, 2022

The USA gamers had been bodily higher constructed and that’s undoubtedly a bonus in set-pieces, however India have solely themselves responsible for the way in which they defended corners. Their poorly defended corners resulted in three targets and extra importantly, the primary two. It was baffling the way in which they selected to defend all of them by the match.

While a lot of the USA attackers stood on the prime of the field after which dashed in as soon as the nook was taken, the Indian defence, as an alternative of man-marking, selected to take care of two traces of 4 gamers every contained in the field. What resulted was that India, who maintained their traces even after the nook was taken, simply couldn’t counter the dashing runs of the USA attackers.

The first objective got here from a poorly cleared nook, however may have been averted had the Indian defenders not been a bit static.

USA captain Riley Jackson obtained the ball on the suitable flank, used her very good ability to go previous a few defenders earlier than lobbing the ball within the field with a deft contact. The Indian defenders, who had been nonetheless sustaining their line after clearing the ball, left Melina Rebimbas open within the middle. The American needed to elevate her foot a tad awkwardly to attach the ball and information it to the again of the online.

USA rapidly doubled their lead within the fifteenth minute and it was as straightforward because it may get. Riley was at it once more, selecting out Charlotte Kohler with an exquisite nook. Kohler towered over the Indian defenders and wasn’t actually challenged.

Bhubaneswar: Melina Rebimbas (14) of USA celebrates with teammates after scoring the primary objective in opposition to India throughout their match at FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 at Kalinga Stadium, in Bhubaneswar, Oct. 11, Tuesday, 2022. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)

In the primary 20 minutes, India who had solely 20% of the possession, weren’t actually capable of string even three passes collectively to threaten the USA protection. Neha was the lone striker and on the uncommon events she bought the ball, there was no one to again her up and it appeared a giant ask of her to tackle the ruthless USA defenders alone.

Any hopes of an Indian comeback had been dashed within the twenty third minute with a fundamental footballing error.
Keen to take a fast objective kick, goalkeeper Anjali Munda performed a brief cross to Purnima Kumari, who didn’t anticipate the transfer. USA ahead Onyeka Gamero had anticipated the transfer although and he or she rapidly outmuscled Purnima earlier than slotting it previous Anjali to offer her group a 3-0 lead.

Eight minutes later, Rebimbas doubled her tally with an outstanding shot from the highest of the field after Riley’s preliminary shot was poorly cleared by Shubhangi Singh.

Eight targets for the @USYNT to start their marketing campaign! 🇺🇸

Their greatest victory of their #U17WWC historical past! 💪 #KickOffTheDream pic.twitter.com/ZoId2ol6gK

— FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) October 11, 2022

By half-time, the rating was 5-0 and one can solely guess what Dennerby’s half-time group speak would’ve been.

India, who made three substitutions on the break, got here out with renewed vigour however that rapidly fazed out within the 51st minute after Ella Emri discovered the highest nook with a header from a nook.

Once USA scored their eighth objective within the 62nd minute — a shocking roller by Indian-origin Mia Bhuta from exterior the field — they began to ease on the assaults and had been content material with passing the ball round, attempting to preserve their vitality. After all, they face a tricky process in Brazil subsequent. The South American giants had edged match debutants Morocco 1-0 within the earlier match of the day.

India face Morocco on Friday and can have plenty of work to do defensively to take care of a clear sheet, particularly relating to set-pieces.