Indian football team is out of the final reckoning at the Intercontinental Cup. Get analysis and highlights of the India vs North Korea (IND vs PRK) Intercontinental Cup match below.
Indian football team was completely outplayed by North Korea (DPR Korea) in their Intercontinental Cup match in Ahmedabad on July 13. The Koreans thrashed India 5-2. With the result, India are out of the race for the final in the four-team tournament.
Jong Il Gwan scored twice for Korea, in the 8th and 28th minute, while Sim Hyon Jin struck once in the 16th minute to give Korea a 3-0 lead going into half time. The second half began with India pressing hard. Lallianzuala Chhangte scored for the hosts in the 51st minute and the home side started signs of a fight back. But Koreans soon regrouped and made it 4-1 through a goal by Ri Un Chol. Sunil Chhetri then made it 2-4 but the Koreans maintained their pressure and rounded off the scoring through a Ri Hyong Jin strike in injury time. (Get analysis and highlights of the India vs North Korea (IND vs PRK) Intercontinental Cup match below.)
The keeper will take all the blame for that but here are a couple of points: 1) the defence is all over the place and (2) the header was right in the corner and almost unstoppable. That said, Amrinder is not doing himself any favours with positioning or reading the game the way he is.
-- Siddhanth Aney
Honestly hope the coach doesn’t make any changes till half-time, give the boys time out and will help them individually in the long run.
-- Arjun Pandit
33’ We are struggling to find some positives from this half hour of play. But here it is. There is an hour left. And strange things have happened in an hour of football. Plus, in an hour these boys can only get better. They have to. This will be a rough learning experience, but...
34’ India finally get on the attack, Manvir runs down the right, and puts a ball in for Pritam, who cuts it back to Rowllin. Rowllin drops a shoulder but sprays the pass out, when finding Jerry may have been easier.
Best piece of play from India in the first half and at the centre of it all has been Amarjit. This boy looks more assured on the ball and his pass than all the other senior boys he’s playing with.
-- Arjun Pandit
36’ Here’s some more bad news. Jhingan is down. And probably coming off.
And we were having a conversation on 420 Grams whether India has a big enough talent pool or not? These last couple of India games should give you an answer. Beyond the top 13-14 players, we don’t have many that can stake a claim to play International football. Also, the last 2 years were Asian Cup years and thus you had to persist with a small bunch of players for that tournament.
-- Arjun Pandit
39’ Right, so Jhingan off and Adil Khan on. And Korea have a freekick on the left of the box. Perfect for a cross. But they don’t cross, jong Il Gwan takes a shot and it sails over the bar.
This is for all the people who were calling for Jobby Justin and Soosairaj to be selected by Constantine. He’s barely been able to hold on to the ball, just a clear reminder that the ISL/I League are not clear indicators of whether a player can survive in International football. Our levels are way off, and the coach has to take a final decision based on his experience.
-- Arjun Pandit
42’ And Adil gets a yellow within minutes of coming on. He fouls at the edge of the box. And Korea have a freekick within Gwan range. And he is on a hat trick.
43’ Amrinder saves. Ri Hyong Jin goes towards Amrinder’s side, at the far post and the keeper slaps it away. Good save. In the circumstances. That must lift his spirits.
45’ Amrinder comes out and makes a good save. He came out bravely and gathered the ball with the Korean striker bearing down at speed.
The fact that Amrinder is kept busy, almost a touch every other minute, making saves, shows how much control the Koreans have in the narrative of this match.
45’ + 1’ This terrible half of football is soon to be over. India can go back in, regroup, get their heads back and maybe come back a different team in the second half.
I really feel for the Indian players here. There are two teams on the pitch. Most of the players on the pitch play in their domestic leagues. If the ISL has really had such a positive impact on the sport in India, and now the game is well managed and financed, how are we so much behind a closed nation that is apparently in the throes of all kinds of misery? The expectation, the expanded fan base, the abuse from social media, the criticism from the press, all of it is heaped on the players. The fact is, as we have been saying for over a decade now, until the league is sorted the national team cannot get better. If you don’t want to take my word for it, ask anyone that has been involved in the sport in India. ANYONE.
Here’s some halftime music. Cheer up guys. Its Saturday. India may be down, but, lets be honest, this was expected. It’s a steep learning curve. And we are climbing with ice pick and rope in hand.
46’ And we kick off the second half. Udanta has come on for Manvir. An outlet on the wing for the counter then.
47’ And we missed that. Chhangte is on too.
47’ Finally, some good attacking play from India!!! Udanta finds Rowllin with an exquisite chipped ball in the box. Rowllin controls it well, too well in fact. He could have had a shot, but five yards from goal he turns and puts it to Amarjit at the top of the box. The youngster is closed down. Chance goes begging.
50’ Udanta and Chhangte coming on will help nullify some pressure from the Korean wings. And give their defenders something to think about.
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