India under-19 went down 0-2 to France U-19 national team in the four-nation tournament in Zagreb, Croatia.
Indian goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill denied the French colts in the 8th minute but the opponents were not to be denied for long as they surged into the lead in the 18th minute.
India had a chance in the 34th minute to level proceedings. But Aniket Jadhav, after he was found in the box by Boris Singh, lacked the venom to get it past the French goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper Gill came up with another acrobatic save in the 44th minute as both teams headed to the interval, France enjoying a 1-0 lead.
Changing over, Aniket had another chance to level proceedings in the 65th minute. But his lob went inches over the bar.
France sealed the fate of the match in the 73rd minute making it 2-0.
The Indian U-19s will be leaving for Serbian shores to play two back-to-back friendlies against the U-19 national team of Serbia on September 13 and September 17 respectively.
“I am happy with the team’s performance in the four-nation international tournament,” the India U19 coach Floyd Pinto stated.
“The boys stood firm and restricted a far superior opponent for most of the match. Considering some of the French players are playing in French Ligue 1 and Elite Academy, our boys did a brilliant job. They proved that they belonged on the same pitch as their elite opponents. In fact, we had our chances – Aniket’s chance from 25 yards out almost gave them a scare,” Pinto added.
