The 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup bound India U-16 national team produced another scintillating performance tonight to get the better of the Rot-Weiss Essen U-16 team at Duisburg in Germany. Two immaculate strikes from Aman Chetri and Amarjit put India on the driving seat in the first 45 minutes itself. Although the home team pulled one back in the second half, they couldn’t match up the valiant Indian boys who stole the show till the end.

The German side showed their intent in the very first minute when they harshly tackled Komal outside the box. Komal came close to scoring the opener within seven minutes but his ambitious effort hovered over the crossbar.

The German defence was breached in the 23rd minute when Aman Chetri, following a calculative buildup by Jitendra and Sanjeev, collected the ball and struck well to find the back of the net.

After the 40-minute mark, Aman Chetri miscued an opportunity to double the lead but India did not need to wait more for the second goal. Following a handball by a Rot-Weiss Essen defender inside the 18-yard box, India earned a penalty in the next minute which was successfully converted by Amarjit in the 43rd minute.

The Indian team outplayed Rot-Weiss Essen in the first 45 minutes and the scoresheet was reflecting it rightly.

After the resumption, the official awarded another penalty in the favour of the Indian colts as Boris Singh was brought down illegally inside the box but Amarjit’s penalty was somehow saved by the Rot-Weiss Essen goalkeeper.

Within a minute, the German team broke the Indian deadlock and put much-needed life into the match.

At the stroke of the 75th minute, Komal got a superb opportunity to double the lead. But his misjudged strike went wide of the goal to leave the India bench shellshocked.

Towards the end, both the outfits kept themselves busy to hold their defence line and they were successful in doing so.

Following the inch-perfect victory, Indian boys are slated to play against Sportfreune Siegen on July 30, 2016 at 18.30 CET (22.00 IST).

(Report & Photo courtesy AIFF Media)