After crashing to their first defeat in three matches in the Hero Intercontinental Cup against New Zealand Head Coach Stephen Constantine maintained “individual errors cost us (India) the game.”

“When you win two matches back–to-back sometimes you get carried away,” Constantine said referring to India’s 5-0 win over Chinese Taipei and 3-0 win over Kenya in the first two matches of the tournament. “New Zealand were disciplined and we made some mistakes and let two silly goals in because of two individual errors that cost us the match.”

He added: “Sometimes we acted naïve and made costly mistakes. These are the things that we need to rectify.”

India started the game with as many as seven changes to the starting line-up which defeated Kenya 3-0. “We gave young guys, who did not play an opportunity to play and that is why this tournament is good for us because we also have to shuffle our ranks and test permutations.”

“We are using the games we have between now and the AFC Asian Cup to prepare for the Continental Championship and hence, we were always going to change the team and give younger players a chance to play.”

“We did the job and got six points and qualified, and that is what matters. If I wanted to take a point off this match, I would have started a different side.”

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Coach Fritz Schmid said, “The result means a lot for us as we defeated the hosts after a day of rest. It is amazing what these young players have achieved.”

(AIFF Media)