Disastrous start for India

LONDON, JULY 25. India started its football tour to England on a disastrous note losing 0-3 to second division club Brentford on Tuesday night.

The Indians allowed Brentford to pump in three goals within four minutes towards the end of the first half to mar their otherwise impressive performance.

Brentford striker Lloyd Owusu and captain Paul Evans netted in the 34th minute and Owusu struck again in the 38th minute to shatter the Indians.

The tourists fought very well in the second half and had some realistic chances of scoring but failed to convert. Captain Baichung Bhutia performed exceptionally despite being marked constantly by two or three defenders but he too could not capitalise on the few opportunities that came India's way.

India started off well and within five minutes of start Bhutia and I.M. Vijayan raided the rival penalty area. Vijayan gave a fine through pass to Bhutia who shot it wide.

In the seventh minute, Bhutia displayed brilliant skills and danced between four defenders to reach the penalty area. This time his powerful right footer from an acute angle was bang on target but the rival goalkeeper was able to make a diving save. Vijayan tried to score off the deflection but this time the ball was well collected by the Brentford custodian.

The Indians earned their first corner in the 11th minute but could not make much of it. Meanwhile, the English club slowly started taking control of the match and the game was concentrated in the Indian half after the first 15 minutes.

Brentford had its first real chance in the 29th minute when a free-kick from just outside the Indian penalty box went over the goal bars. Five minutes later Owusu took the ball inside the box and had only the goalkeeper to beat but shot wide much to the relief of the Indians.

The relief was short-lived though as Owusu made up for the miss in the very next minute. Hardly had the celebrations for the home team died down that Evans made it 2-0 within seconds of the first goal.

A shaken India was still coming to terms with the twin shock when Owusu pumped in the third goal in the 38th minute to increase its agony.

The Indians managed to ward off further threats in the first half and went into the breather in deep contemplation.

However, they came out stronger in the second half playing with greater zeal and purpose. Their passes were more accurate and they raided the rival goal with alarming frequency in the first few minutes.

However, all that could not be converted into a goal and the Indians grew desperate after sometime. Brentford, in the meanwhile, once again took control of the proceedings and effected a few good moves but they were negated by the substitute goalkeeper Sambaran Mukherjee who came on the field in the second half.

India next plays former European Cup winner and now a first division team Nottingham Forest Club on Saturday, third division Leyton Orient on July 31 and first division Walsali on August 3.

- PTI

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