BLACK STARLETS STUMBLE IN INDIA, AS USA PICKS FIRST GROUP TICKET



After a good performance in match day one of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, the Black Starlets failed to shine at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi as they succumbed to a high flying United States of American side by 0-1. 

A 75th minute goal by substitute Ayo Akinola was enough to see the U.S.A youth team edge closer to the second phase of the competition, the score line after regulation time put the Americans on top of the table with Ghana lying second above Colombia with the head –to-head advantage leaving India at the bottom of the table with zero points and minus 4 goals.

The Starlets went into the game with an advantage over the Americans having beaten them in all meetings over the past years in the youth tournaments in 1995 and 1997. Coach Samuel Paa Kwesi Fabin made only a single change to his winning team that beat Colombia by a lone goal as he replaced Iddris Ibrahim with Isaac Gyamfi who was not bad on the day. Ghana will take on India in their last group game.  

In the other games, host nation India again lost to Colombia by 1-2 after two second-half goals by Juan Penaloza gave Colombia the needed victory over India while on the other side in group B After a narrow defeat in their opening match, African champions Mali returned strongly to defeat Turkey by 3-0 to put themselves back into the battle for a place in the next phase of the competition in group B.

Finally, for the second consecutive time, Paraguay scored late goals to come out on top in a high-scoring thriller, this time beating New Zealand 4-2 to qualify for the knockout rounds with a game to spare on Thursday. 

Tomorrow (Tuesday) matches will see Spain taking on Niger, Costa Rica will play Guinea, Korea will battle Brazil and finally Iran will take on Germany. 

Catch all the action live on GTV, GTV Sports, Uniiq 95.7fm and all GBC regional radio stations.
 
Story: Jacob Narh Nortah 
@NarhNortah
GBCONLINE
---DECRYPTED---