Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Trailing by two goals at half-time, India’s Under-15 football team produced a remarkable comeback to defeat Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 in the Round of 16 of the lower-tier competition for teams ranked 81st to 88th at the Under-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku. The Blue Colts, coached by Bibiano Fernandes, showed tremendous fighting spirit in the second half, scoring three goals to turn the match around and secure a memorable victory against their Caribbean opponents.

The win has earned India a place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Afghanistan. Afghanistan booked their place in the last eight after recording an impressive 6-2 victory over Namibia. The quarter-final match for positions 81 to 88 is scheduled for Thursday at 1 pm Indian Standard Time, giving India another opportunity to build on their second-half performance and continue their campaign in the tournament.

Wednesday’s match began with both teams showing attacking intent, but it was Trinidad and Tobago who struck first. India suffered an early setback in the sixth minute when Jelone Carrington found the back of the net to give the Caribbean side the lead. The early goal put pressure on the Indian players, who were forced to chase the game from the opening stages.

Despite falling behind, the Indian team did not lose its attacking ambition. Bibiano Fernandes’ boys launched repeated attempts to find an equaliser and worked hard to create scoring opportunities. However, their efforts were repeatedly frustrated by the opposition goalkeeper, who stood firm to deny India a way back into the contest.

The situation became more difficult for India in the 18th minute when Joshua Cyrus scored Trinidad and Tobago’s second goal. With a two-goal advantage, the Caribbean side appeared to be in control of the match. India had created several opportunities during the first half but failed to convert them, and the inability to find the net left the team facing a difficult task after the interval.

The second half, however, brought a dramatic change in the course of the match. India returned to the field with renewed determination and immediately began looking for ways to reduce the deficit. Their persistence paid off in the 23rd minute when Lalarremruatfela made a dangerous run down the left flank, beat an opposing defender and delivered a low cross into the penalty area. LalaruamPuiya was perfectly positioned to meet the delivery and finished with a first-time shot to pull one goal back for India.

The goal injected fresh energy into the Indian side and changed the momentum of the contest. The Blue Colts began pressing forward with greater confidence, putting the Trinidad and Tobago defence under increasing pressure. Their attacking efforts soon produced another breakthrough, bringing India level and setting the stage for an exciting finish.

In the 25th minute, LalaruamPuiya collected the ball inside the penalty area and managed to create space for a shot despite being surrounded by several defenders. Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Leach managed to get a hand to the effort, but he could not prevent the ball from crossing the goal line. India had completed their comeback from two goals down, making it 2-2 and leaving both teams with everything to play for.

With the scores level, India continued to push for a winner rather than settling for a draw. Their determination was rewarded in the 29th minute when Lalarremruatfela scored the decisive goal. The move began with a cross from the right flank by Nivas Meitei Wahengbam, who delivered the ball into the penalty area. Lalarremruatfela collected it, kept his composure under pressure and calmly guided the ball past the defenders into the net.

India had turned a 0-2 half-time deficit into a 3-2 lead with three goals after the break. The late advantage gave the Blue Colts something to protect, and they showed composure in the closing stages to maintain their lead. When the final whistle sounded, India had completed a thrilling victory that demonstrated the team’s resilience and ability to respond under pressure.

The result also comes after a challenging series of matches for Bibiano Fernandes’ side in the tournament. India had won their opening two matches before being held to a draw by Grenada in a game they had appeared capable of winning. The team subsequently learned from that setback and bounced back with a 4-3 victory over Bahrain.

However, a heavy 1-6 defeat against Senegal prevented India from finishing at the top of their group. The team also suffered a 1-2 defeat against Honduras on Wednesday morning, making the comeback victory over Trinidad and Tobago particularly important for their confidence and momentum.

India’s performance against Trinidad and Tobago highlighted the importance of maintaining belief even when a match appears to be slipping away. After struggling to convert their chances in the first half, the young Indian players displayed greater attacking sharpness and composure after the break. Their three-goal burst transformed the contest and secured India’s first victory in this stage of the tournament.

With Afghanistan awaiting them in the quarter-finals, the Blue Colts will now look to carry the confidence gained from this dramatic comeback into their next match. The victory over Trinidad and Tobago has offered a timely reminder that India can recover from difficult situations, provided they maintain their attacking intent and composure until the final whistle.