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India U15 lose 1-2 to Afghanistan in FIFA U15 World Cup quarter-final

Afghanistan's two first-half goals proved enough as India's tournament run ended in the quarter-final.

By , Sports writer

· 2 min read

Football, general photo
Football (general photo, not from this event) Photo: KEREM_TASER / Pixabay, Pixabay Content License

India U15 lost 1-2 to Afghanistan in the FIFA U15 World Cup quarter-final for positions 81 to 88. Nibas Meetei Wahengbam scored India's only goal.

Key takeaways

  • India lost 1-2 to Afghanistan in the FIFA U15 World Cup quarter-final.
  • The match decided positions 81 to 88 in the tournament.
  • Mohammad Mustafa scored in the 15th minute and Shahzada Sultani in the 27th minute.
  • Nibas Meetei Wahengbam pulled one back for India in the 36th minute.
  • India will now face Kazakhstan in the semi-final for positions 85 to 88.

India lost 1-2 to Afghanistan in the FIFA U15 World Cup quarter-final for positions 81 to 88 on Thursday, ending India's hopes for a higher placement. Afghanistan opened the scoring against the run of play through Mohammad Mustafa in the 15th minute.

Shahzada Sultani doubled their advantage in the 27th minute after pressing India into an error. Nibas Meetei Wahengbam reduced the deficit in the 36th minute, but the Blue Colts could not find an equaliser.

India began with attacking intent and created a succession of opportunities in the sixth minute. R Lalremruatfela delivered a low cross from the left that the Afghanistan goalkeeper spilled, but Victor Lalawmpuia could not react quickly enough to capitalise.

The Afghanistan defenders were unable to clear the danger, allowing Nibas to regain possession inside the penalty area. His attempted lay-off eluded Lalawmpuia before the ball reached an unmarked Lalremruatfela, whose left-footed effort drew a diving save from the goalkeeper.

The Blue Colts threatened again in the ninth minute when Nibas threaded a fine through ball from the wing towards Lalawmpuia. However, the Afghanistan goalkeeper read the danger and came forward to gather before the Indian attacker could reach it.

Afghanistan took the lead when Sultani delivered a cross from the left into the penalty area, where Mustafa got away from his marker, Birjit Singh Amom, and connected with a right-footed volley. Afghanistan extended their advantage in the 27th minute after pressing India into an error.

Under pressure from Khair Mohammad Nazari, Nara Meitei Loushambam played a misplaced pass that was intercepted by Sultani. The Afghanistan player weaved past the Indian defenders before driving a powerful near-post strike into the roof of the net.

India sought a response through counterattacks but were unable to make their corners and set pieces count. Their persistence eventually brought a goal in the 37th minute.

Lalremruatfela gathered a long ball inside the penalty area and laid it off for Nibas, who slotted home to bring the Blue Colts back into the contest.

India pushed forward in search of an equaliser in the remaining minutes, but Afghanistan preserved their advantage and secured the victory.

What happens next

India will face Kazakhstan in the semi-finals for positions 85 to 88 later on Thursday. Kazakhstan lost to Hungary in their quarter-final. The FIFA U15 World Cup is an international association football competition among national teams. A world cup is a global sporting competition in which participant entities compete for the title of world champion.

Goal scorers in the India U15 vs Afghanistan U15 match

Team

Scorer

Minute

Afghanistan

Mohammad Mustafa

15'

Afghanistan

Shahzada Sultani

27'

India

Nibas Meetei Wahengbam

36'

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