The Indian Under 17 squad, who are training in the sunny state until the 24th of this month, succumbed to FC Goa's Isaac Negredo's solitary goal. The centre-back rose the highest and headed in past 'keeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill in the second half under lights.
India U17s had the better half in the first period when forward Aniket Jadhav proved to be a menace for the Gaurs' backline. Sikkim-born playmaker Komal Thatal also saw a shot kiss the crossbar but did not ruffle the net.
Former Salgaocar and Goa Santosh Trophy team starlet Liston Colaco then forced Prabhsukhan into producing a brilliant save and the Punjab-born kept the national side in the game.
Twitter/IndianFootballThings turned ugly later on as the match ended with the referee having shown five bookings for the youngsters who threw high boots aplenty on each other. However, there were no injury scares for both sides.
Luis Norton de Matos' wards had played two practice games against Bengaluru FC's reserve side last month in the Garden City. Having lost the first game 1-3, they came back to only draw the next 1-1. This game was an avenue for the coach to see how the players were shaping up close to the tournament and to experiment.
The head coach now has a friendly against Mauritius in Goa on Wednesday to test his side and finalise his 21-man-squad before the deadline on Thursday, 21st September.
India U17s fly out to New Delhi on 24th September and will be based there in preparation for the World Cup opener against USA on 6th October. India will play all its group games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the national capital; Colombia and Ghana make up Group A which houses the first-time hosts.
