T&T beat India, but Indians show fighting spirit

Trinidad&Tobago won 3-0 against India in an international friendly at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain as part of the +ONE India Caribbean Tour. The Soca Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the first half, while scoring two more after the break.



The first goal came of a penalty from veteran striker Stern John in the 19th minute, while Darryl Roberts added two more in the 47th and 85th minutes.



The opening quarter saw caution from both teams with each side testing the water with T&T stringing a lot of passes together, while India took a more direct approach. India went behind in the 19th minute when Raju Gaikwad brought down Darryl Roberts on the right side of the box with the Indian defence beaten. The foul was unnecessary as Roberts looked to be heading out. The resultant penalty was scored by a strong Stern John shot into the heart of goal.



India needed some minutes to regroup and their best chance of the half fell to Syed Rahim Nabi on the half hour mark as he beat the T&T defence on the left, cut in but his right-footer just curled wide of the goal. T&T went into the break with a one goal advantage.



After the break T&T upped the pressure and Darryl Roberts would make it 2-0 in the 47th minute. At this early second half stage it looked that India could be in danger of falling apart, but India needed some minutes to get back into the game and the boys showed character as they started playing football, stringing passes together and combining on the ground rather then using the long ball which was often used in the first half.



First a Nabi header of a Raju Gaikwad throw-in would just went over the crossbar in the 53rd minute and then a couple of minutes later a nice combination saw Sunil Chhetri's shot being blocked by T&T keeper Marvin Phillips, while Nabi's attempt of the rebound went over. India had another chance through Jeje Lalpekhlua in the 73rd minute as he got a nice through ball, but once more Marvin Phillips was upto the task.



India would concede a late third in the 85th minute when an alert T&T caught India napping during a free-kick with the ball played to Darryl Roberts who would make it 3-0 past Subrata Pal on the night.



India gave a good account of themselves with mistakes leading to the first and third goal, while own chances were not converted.



Coach Armando Colaco said in the post-match press conference, "It is about learning for my boys. Trinidad&Tobago is a much better team, you only have to look at the FIFA rankings. And they showed it today."



"But I am proud of my boys on how they came back and fought in the game. We take this experience to Guyana and there hope for a better result," Armando added.





MATCH STATS



Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 India



Goals: 1-0 Stern John (19', penalty), 2-0 Darryl Roberts (47'), 3-0 Darryl Roberts (85')





INDIA



1-Subrata Pal; 16-Samir Naik (79' 28-Peter Carvalho), 19-Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, 3-Raju Eknath Gaekwad, 2-Debabrata Roy; 23-Steven Benedic Dias (83' 20-Lalrindika Ralte), 8-Climax Lawrence [C] (88' 35-Rocus Lamare), 30-Mehtab Hussain, 22-Syed Rahim Nabi (74' 34-Valeriano Rebello); 10-Jeje Lalpekhlua, 11-Sunil Chhetri (84' 18-Sushil Kumar Singh)

Substitutes: 21-Karanjit Singh, 14-Mahesh Gawli