India's under-20 team came up with a commendable display, but it was not enough to deny the AC Milan under-18 squad from scoring a 2-1 victory in the Festa 2005 Cup, organized by the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at the Bombay Gymkhana on Saturday.
The highlight of the match was a fine brace of goals by Milan striker Enrico Travaini, who displayed clinical finish to crosses from the right.
All the goals came in the first half.
The Indians, cheered on by a partisan crowd, had a better share of the exchanges and more ball possession but lacked the ideas to penetrate the Italian defence.
Their only goal came from a quick offensive down the right in the 24th minute, when striker Shafique latched on to a diagonal from Lalmalsauma.
The Italian juniors had taken the lead six minutes earlier against the run of play when Travaini dashed in and headed home a diagonal from Vito Francesco Ferdinando.
The Indians could have gone ahead four minutes later when Bevan D'Mello broke free down the middle, but his left-footed volley narrowly sailed off the right post.
Milan regained the lead that ultimately turned out to be the match-winner in added time of the first half when Travaini positioned himself at the right spot to connect home a cross from the right by Da Ros Enrico.
In the second session, it was the Indians who held sway in a midfield battle, but their strikers were unable to create an impression on the Italian defence.
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