India face exit after loss to Jordan

India were outplayed and handed a 2-3 defeat by Jordan in the AFC Youth Championship Group 'A' league match in Kolkata on Tuesday.

The hosts, with one point from two matches, face an exit from the tournament. They play defending champions the Korean Republic in their last match on Thursday.

India drew with Kyrgyzstan 1-1 in the opening match.

The narrow margin notwithstanding, Jordan played better football and were in control for most of the game.

India went ahead in the 25th minute, against the run of play, when striker Branco neatly headed the ball home past lunging Jordan custodian Salah, after receiving it from an excellent free-kick from Malsawma.

But India's joy was short-lived as Jordan got the equaliser within seven minutes when defender Bader scored from a melee after the ball ricocheted off the crossbar.

Indian custodian Shilton Paul was caught unawares and watched Bader tap the ball into the goal with a header.

Jordan went ahead 2-1 in the 64th minute when Nofal received the ball from Baha at the top of the box and drove home in a flash, as the Indian defenders stood watching.

India, however, equalised in the 76th minute when a centre by substitute medio Lalkamal Bhowmick fell in front of the goal and a Jordan defender's attempt to clear the ball boomeranged when it hit Indian striker Sushil Singh and entered the goal.

But Jordan stepped up the pressure on the Indian defence, which seemed to be in total disarray. They snatched the match-winner in the 87th minute when substitute Nofal scored his second goal.

Nofal tapped the ball into the goal after getting a lofted pass from Tariq.

India faced the ignominy of one player being shown the red card in the last minute of the game when Thoi Singh was given the marching orders for hitting a Jordan forward from behind.