India put up a courageous combat earlier than happening 4-8 towards mighty Japan of their must-win final Group D match and crash out of AFC U-17 Asian Cup right here on Friday. In a recreation of two halves, India clawed again into the match within the second half and gave Japan an actual run for his or her cash, earlier than shedding the match on the finish. The Blue Colts got here into the encounter needing to win, with a purpose to stand an opportunity to qualify for the quarter-finals of the match, however that might not occur. India had been pressured to make one change to their beginning XI, as Mukul Panwar was introduced in as centre-back instead of the suspended Pramveer.

Japan had been dominant from the very begin, having fun with possession, whereas India performed a mid-block recreation.

The Blue Colts seemed to include Japan and funnel them right into a slim space. Thanglalsoun Gangte was the one one within the centre circle, seeking to maintain up the ball for the counter-attacks.

Lalpekhlua Ralte had a few runs down the left, whereas Korou seemed to chop in and provides help to Gangte.

However, for all their intense runs each on and off the ball, Japan’s high quality confirmed once they got here near scoring again and again.

Gakuto Kawamura opened the scoring for Japan when he ran on to a rebound on the fringe of the realm and smashed it in. He got here near doubling the lead for Japan a couple of minutes later, when his shot from exterior the field got here off the woodwork.

India’s solely likelihood within the first half got here when Vanlalpeka Guite chipped a ball via to Korou Singh contained in the Japan field, however the latter smashed his volley straight on the opposition goalkeeper.

That missed alternative got here again to hang-out India afterward as Gaku Nawata went via on objective and slipped it previous Sahil to double Japan’s lead. Nawata added a 3rd simply seconds earlier than half-time, to make it 3-0 in his group’s favour.

India got here out with much more vigour within the second half, and instantly clawed one objective again from a set-piece. A free-kick from the left flank was swung in by Guite, as an airborne Mukul Panwar tapped it in.

The mighty Japan, nevertheless, responded with two objectives within the subsequent couple of minutes, the primary scored by Shuto Nagano, and the second by Yumeki Yoshinaga.

Despite being 1-5 down, the Indian colts did not lose hope.

Slightly over the hour mark, Gangte sprung ahead on the left, proceeded to the road and lower it again for Danny Meitei to faucet it in.

At the opposite finish, a foul by Mukul contained in the Indian field resulted in a penalty being awarded to Japan. India keeper Sahil Poonia, nevertheless, stood tall and dived to his proper to avoid wasting the trouble from Ryunosuke Sato.

The India keeper instantly launched a counter, that resulted in Danny sprinting into the Japan field from the left. As he tried to cross it to Gangte, a stray deflection off a Japanese leg went in to scale back the margin to 3-5.

Japan discovered their method again once more, when Yotaro Nakajim scored their sixth objective of the evening, to take a 6-3 lead.

The Indians, nevertheless, did not surrender.

With 10 minutes left, Lalpekhlua Ralte scampered into the field and lower it again for captain Korou to faucet it in and make it 4-6.

Eight minutes of damage time had been added, giving additional hope to the Blue Colts. For a great a part of the damage time, Japan had been pegged again by India’s excessive press, unable to get out of their very own half.

However, Japan confirmed their high quality as Gota Yamaguchi and Shungo Sugiora netted back-to-back objectives to safe the three factors for Japan.