![\"Bricks](\"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.co.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Bricks-games-U17.jpg\")
GOA: The Indian U-16 National Team went down fighting 0-1 against Russia in their opening clash of the BRICS U-17 Football Tournament at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, Goa today.<\/p>\nGOA: The Indian U-16 National Team went down fighting 0-1 against Russia in their opening clash of the BRICS U-17 Football Tournament at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, Goa today.<\/p>\n
Lopatin Daniil’s third minute strike proved to be the difference between the two sides in a match largely contested in the midfield, before Russia were reduced to 10 men in the second half, but stood strong to grab their first win of the BRICS U-17 Football Tournament.<\/p>\n
The Russian Team freshly on the back of participating in the UEFA Development Tournament took the lead as early as the 3rd minute when a scuffle inside the Indian penalty box led Spartak Moscow’s Lopatin Daniil to bash home.<\/p>\n
After suffering a nervy start, the Indian colts looked comfortable in possession as the game progressed and in the 24th minute a Boris cross from the right flank flew whiskers away from Aniket. Had Boris found Aniket, the latter would have been straight onto the Russian goal.<\/p>\n
India’s custodian Dheeraj Singh made some top class saves to keep India in the match as the Indian Colts went into the tunnel at the half-way point trailing by a solitary goal to nil, with Russian custodian Sangare David called into action only once as thwarted Boris Singh’s ferocious shot away in the 31st minute.<\/p>\n
A rejuvenated India emerged after the second half and immediately pressed for the equalizer and Amarjit Singh’s 48th minute strike, which went whisker past the post, bolstered Indian spirits.<\/p>\n
Russia were reduced to 10 men in the 50th minute when midfielder Umiarov Nail was sent off for a back lunge on Amarjit Singh. In hopes of taking advantage of an extra man, the Indian attack force launched wave after wave of attack.<\/p>\n
In the 53rd minute, Sanjeev Stalin’s freekick flew over the bar as India upped their ante. Three minutes later<\/span><\/span>, Russian custodian made a world class save to deny Amarjit. In the 69th minute, substitute Aman Chhetri’s shot flew inches wide of the goal.<\/p>\n Although India penetrated the Russian half and kept the ball in the final third, failure to foster clear goal scoring opportunities left a hefty onus on the forwards to score from half chances. With Russia committing men in defence, the task became even more difficult.<\/p>\n In the 83rd minute, Komal Thatal’s curling shot from the edge of the Russian 18 yard box came agonizingly close to equalize the proceedings for India.<\/p>\n Despite Russia not registering a single shot on the Indian goal in the second half, the opponent defence did its job and stood strong to see off the match.<\/p>\n India’s starting XI against Russia: Dheeraj Singh (GK); Boris Singh, Jitendra Singh, Mohammad Rakip; Sanjeev Stalin, Suresh Singh (C), Ninthoi Meetei (81’ – Shubham Sarangi), Amarjit Singh, Komal Thatal, Lalengmawia (59’ – Aman Chhetri), Abhijit Sarkar (38’ – Aniket Jadhav)<\/p>\n By Joseph Solomon,<\/p>\n AIFF Media Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Lopatin Daniil’s third minute strike proved to be the difference between the two sides in a match largely contested in the midfield, before Russia were reduced to 10 men in the second half, but stood strong to grab their first win of the BRICS U-17 Football Tournament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[18287,18312,1205,466,9855],"class_list":["post-29214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football-football","tag-brics-u-17-football-tournament","tag-brics-u17-football","tag-india","tag-indian-sports-news","tag-russia"],"yoast_head":"\nGOA: The Indian U-16 National Team went down fighting 0-1 against Russia in their opening clash of the BRICS U-17 Football Tournament at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, Goa today.<\/p>\n