KOLKATA, INDIA: Brazil defeated India 4-0 in the FIFA international friendly (India vs Brazil) between the two teams at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium in Calcutta (Kolkata) on Saturday, October 3. A brace from Samuel Lino and a goal each from Estevao and Pedro ensured the win for the visitors, who appeared completely unruffled by India. Two goals in the first half and a couple in the second sealed the deal for Brazil.
Estevao opened the scoring for the Selecao in the 28th minute after receiving a pass from right-back Matheuzinho. The latter had first received the ball from central midfielder Andrey Santos before driving forward and setting a weighted pass for Estevao to capitalise on. The Chelsea man then cut back inside, drove a fierce shot at Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s near post, and was rewarded with a goal.
Brazil doubled their lead in the 41st minute when centre-forward Pedro utilised Sandhu’s unusually ambivalent nature to his advantage. The veteran shot-stopper could have done much better this time, but he failed to see the ball into his hands and allowed his reflexes to be misled by his eyes. Pedro was given the ball on a plate by Estevao, who was allowed to cut back inside once again.
Anirudh Thapa did his best to mark Gabriel Bontempo and Danilo, but he was often summoned for defensive duties when, without possession, his partner in midfield, Apuia, was forced to act as the third central defender between Anwar Ali and Bijoy Varghese. Nonetheless, this did little to restrict Thapa’s nomadic nature in the centre of the park, and he regularly found himself with acres of space.
India vs Brazil: The Selecao scored two goals in each half
Now, how Thapa used this space in the first half of India vs Brazil was up for debate. It was not that the Mohun Bagan man did not try to release the ball early enough for Manvir Singh and Ryan Williams to act upon, but India’s mid-block often meant that their attackers had little time to transition from defence and rush into the final third. Khalid Jamil’s adjustment had worked well until the first two goals were conceded in India vs Brazil.
26-year-old Lino scored twice in the second half, first in the 58th minute and later in stoppage time to put the match beyond India’s reach and take the scoreline to 4-0 in favour of the visitors. For his first goal, Lino was supplied the pass by Juventus’ Douglas Luiz, who was quick to seize upon a heavy touch by Bijoy Varghese. For his brace, Lino overcame a 1v1 situation to fire one into the back of the net.
This game was unique in the sense that it saw India substitute all their starting players, with even goalkeeper Sandhu being replaced by East Bengal’s Prabhsukhan Singh Gill in the second half. The Selecao, however, stopped one short of going as far, allowing their custodian Pedro Morisco to retain his gloves till the end of the evening. Following this heavy defeat in India vs Brazil, the Blue Tigers now gear up to host Uruguay at the same venue on Tuesday, October 6.
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Cover image courtesy: AIFF
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