India Put Up a Fight in Historic Friendly, but Brazil Secure a 4-0 Victory

Sports Desk

A huge gap of 133 places in the FIFA rankings. While the difference in power on paper is immense, in reality the picture on the field was not that great at the beginning. India gave a great fight despite losing to five-time world champions Brazil at the traditional Yuva Bharati Sports Complex in Kolkata on Saturday. In the end, the Brazilians left the field with a 4-0 victory in this historic international friendly match.

Despite such a huge gap in rankings, the Indian team put Brazil under pressure with a great performance in the first 27 minutes of the match. However, Brazil gradually took control of the game. After conceding two goals in the first half in the face of successive attacks from the world’s best, India had to concede two more goals in the second half.
Estevao scored the first goal for Brazil in the 28th minute of the match with a wonderful strike. The Brazilian winger beat Indian defender Ashiq Kurunyan on the edge of the box and took a powerful shot at the near post. Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu tried to block the ball, but in the end the ball went under ‘his’ hand and into the net.

Brazil doubled their lead in the 42nd minute through Pedro. Pedro ran behind Anwar Ali after receiving the ball from the right touchline and Estevao headed the ball in. Pedro’s shot from a tight angle was headed straight for Gurpreet, but he failed to control the ball and it went back into the net.

After the break, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti made several changes to the team. Bruno Guimaraes, Gabriel Magalhaes, Wanderson, Samuel Lino and Douglas Luiz were brought on.
After these changes, Brazil’s attacking edge increased even more. They scored the team’s third goal in the 58th minute. When Vijay Varghese lost the ball in their own dangerous area, Brazil quickly advanced the ball to Samuel Lino on the left side of the box. The forward beat the diving Gurpreet and sent the ball into the net with a wonderful finish.
In the fourth minute of extra time, Lino completed ‘his’ second and the team’s fourth goal. He entered from the edge of the box and took a low shot at the near post. The ball slipped through the goalkeeper’s hands and entered the net, ensuring a big 4-0 victory for the Seleção. Although far behind in strength, this opening match between India and the best team on the world stage will hold a special place in the minds of football fans.