The Indian players applaud the crowd who have supported them massively in the three matches. Dheeraj Singh, India's best player in the tournament, is inconsolable as he walks around the pitch. It has been a wonderful experience for these youngsters as well as the fans in this tournament. From hearing the national anthem being sung for the first time at a FIFA tournament to witnessing an Indian player score the country's first ever goal at a World Cup, it has been a proud achievement for the country.
That's it from us here tonight. Thank you for being with us. Goodnight!
Full time. USA 1-3 Colombia
It's full time in Mumbai. Colombia beat United States 3-1 to finish second in Group A behind Ghana. The US, who began the day on top now, have to settle for a third-place finish. Top three teams in Group A qualify for the next stage. What a night! What a game!
Colombia score again!!! It's 3-1 now! With Ghana leading 4-0 against India, it's the Africans who top Group A as things stand. Colombia are now second and the US are third with both teams tied on points, goal difference and goal scored. But Colombia who are leading the US 3-1 have a superior head to head record.
Priyansh, Correspondent from New Delhi
21:59 (IST)
India saved its worst for the last. All evening, it was difficult for the hosts to string a decent move together and one struggles to think of a single high point. Outplayed, outmanoeuvred, outclassed. Ghana was way too good for India. The World Cup will miss the crowds attracted by Matos’ boys but it won’t miss their football. As expected, India go out of the tournament in the group stage. The three matches have been a lesson in football for the Boys in Blue.
21:57 (IST)
Full-time! India bow out of the FIFA U-17 World Cup after a 4-0 loss to Ghana.
And India's World Cup journey is over. The Indian players collapse on the turf and a couple of them break into tears. The Ghanaian players go towards the small pocket of Ghana fans in the stadium and break into a choreographed dance move. Painful end to India's first forray into a FIFA World Cup.
Priyansh, Correspondent from New Delhi
21:51 (IST)
89` Ghana 4-0 India
Lalengmawia excited the crowd with a tame shot. Now, he contributes to the silence as Leveh dispossesses him to set substitute Richardo Danso through. The result is a consummate finish. And it’s 4-0 in the next minute! India’s energy levels have dropped significantly. Ibrahim Sulley’s angled shot hits the foot of the post and falls nicely for Emmanuel Toku to stroke it home. As it stands, Ghana looks set to be the Group A winner.
21:50 (IST)
87` 2 GOALS in 2 minutes for Ghana! Ghana 4-0 India
Both the Ghanaian substitutes add their name to the goal sheet. Danso runs clear of the Indian defence before slotting it calmly past Dheeraj. A minute later, Toku hits the back of the net from the rebound after Sulley's shot cannons back off the post.
21:46 (IST)
83` Ghana 2-0 India
Lalengmawia with a better attempt from long range and it seems that India might pull one back but Danlad stops the ball with an outstretched palm before claiming it after a couple of bounces.
21:44 (IST)
82` Ghana 2-0 India
Final roll of dice by coach Luis Norton de Matos. He gives Lalengmawia his first taste of the tournament as Aniket Jadhav goes off. This substitution confirms that Komal Thatal, who had been warming up for a while, will not feature again in this World Cup. It seems rather strange that after his not so poor display in the first game, Thatal has been totally ignored. It will be interesting to learn the coach’s thoughts on this after the game. India could certainly have done with his pace on a day when we saw the biggest turnout here. The official figure is 52,614.
21:43 (IST)
80` Ghana 2-0 India
With 10 minutes to go, India have their first shot on target. Rahul belts it at Danlad but it is straight at the Ghanaian keeper. Final change for Ghana as the goal-scorer Eric Ayiah comes off for Richard Danso. It has been a very good night for the Ghana skipper.
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21:39 (IST)
76` Ghana 2-0 India
Aniket Jadhav is replaced by Lalengmawia as Jeakson breaks the play with a careless foul from behind.
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21:36 (IST)
72` Ghana 2-0 India
Another chance created, another chance spurned. Ayiah needs to get a touch to bag his hat-trick but is nudged away by Jitendra. Ghana make their second change as Edmund Arko-Mensah goes off and Kudus Mohammed comes on.
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Kaushal Shukla, Firstpost correspondent DY Patil Stadium
21:32 (IST)
70` Ghana 2-0 India
GOAL in Mumbai and what a strike it was. Colombia retake the lead through a stunning free-kick from Deiber Caidedo. As things stand the US remain top of group A on goal difference. Ghana are second and Colombia third. However, if it stays like this the South Americans along with Ghana and US will qualify for the next round in all likelihood.
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Priyansh, Correspondent from New Delhi
21:30 (IST)
69` Ghana 2-0 India
India has replaced Naorem, whose swollen ankle seems to have acted up again, and skipper Amarjit for Meetei and Rahim Ali. In principle, this is an attacking move but Ghana’s superiority is legion. India has not really kicked on from the fighting display against Colombia, although the host’s opponent today is a conspicuously better side. With less than half an hour to go before the final whistle, it is unlikely that any promising outcome will come India’s way.
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21:27 (IST)
65` Ghana 2-0 India
Sulley again. Tries to chip it from near the halfway line and Dheeraj scampers back to his line but thankfully for him, the ball lands on the roof of the net.
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21:25 (IST)
62` Ghana 2-0 India
Dheeraj Singh has been India's saving grace in this tournament. He is off his line and Sulley tries to chip him but Dheeraj stretches as far as he can and gets a touch on it before grabbing the ball on the bounce. Skipper Amarjit Singh makes way for Rahim Ali.
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Priyansh, Correspondent from New Delhi
21:21 (IST)
60` Ghana 2-0 India
Eric Ayiah finally seems to have found his scoring boots. A moment of fortune returns the ball to Edmund Arko-Mensah after he put a cross into the six-yard box. The midfielder has the time and acute sense of cutting back the ball to an unmarked Ayiah who drives the ball home. India’s hopes of a comeback are being expertly snuffed out here.
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21:19 (IST)
56` Ghana 1-0 India
Emmanuel Toku replaces Sadiq Ibrahim in a like for like change for Ghana. A curious move that as Ibrahim was already suspended for the next match after exceeding his yellow card limit tonight. Meanwhile, Nongdamba goes down with cramps and he's replaced by Ninthoinganba Meetei who comes on.
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21:15 (IST)
51` GOAL. Eric Ayiah scores again! Ghana 2-0 India
This is probably it. Ayiah, completely unmarked in the box, smashes the ball in from Arko-Mensah's cutback and that's probably the end of India's World Cup journey. Poor defending from India there.
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Kaushal Shukla, Firstpost correspondent DY Patil Stadium
21:10 (IST)
48` Ghana 1-0 India
Second half starts. As things stand, US will top Group A, Ghana will finish second and Colombia will finish third with four points in the bag. The draw will also make Colombia the best third-placed team as of now.
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21:09 (IST)
The second half gets underway. Ghana 1-0 India
No changes for either side but more importantly for India, Dheeraj Singh has recovered from his knock. Ibrahim with a wild jump on Amarjit which leaves the Indian skipper on the turf clutching his hand. Ibrahim goes into the book for that which means he'll miss Ghana's next match.
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Priyansh, Correspondent from New Delhi
21:00 (IST)
India are a goal behind at the interval after Ghana finally makes an incursion count. Isaac Gyamfi found Sadiq Ibrahim on the right, who rushed past his marker to put a ball in the six-yard box. Goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh could only get a hand to it and Eric Ayiah slid the rebound home. This goal had been coming all half and India should feel a bit fortunate that the scoreline does not look worse for the host.
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20:58 (IST)
It's 1-1 at HT in the USA-Colombia match and as it stands, Ghana will go through to the Round of 16 ahead of the South Americans. The Colombians will finish and will hope that the matches in the other groups go in their favour for them to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
20:55 (IST)
HT Ghana 1-0
Ghana have had the upper hand in the first half and it's only their wastefulness in front of goal that is keeping India in the game. India need to go all out in the second half now.
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Half-time! Ghana 1-0 India
Indian fans won’t complain but Ghana is a frustrating side to watch. Time and again, the Black Starlets waste good situations. Coach Fabin is visibly frustrated at his side. India’s wastefulness in possession, reminiscent of the opening match, has not been punished yet.
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20:49 (IST)
45+2` Ghana 1-0 India
Mensah gives a foul close to the half line and gets into the referee's book. India's defenders go up for the free kick and Jitendra finds himself at the end of the ball but his header is a long way from the goal and it bounces past the post.
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20:47 (IST)
45` Ghana 1-0 India
Four minutes of added time and India are camped in front of their box. Sulley lets one fly from close range but it's saved by Dheeraj.
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20:46 (IST)
43` GOAL! Eric Ayiah gives Ghana the lead!
After 43 minutes of resolute defending, India concede. Ibrahim with a good run to the byline and his pull back is gloved away by Dheeraj but only as far as Ayiah who makes no mistake in volleying it into the goal.
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20:43 (IST)
41` Ghana 0-0 India
This is bad for India. India's custodian Dheeraj Singh goes down clutching his thigh after the corner. He receives medical attention and is back on his feet. Minutes later he's called into action as he rushes out to clear a long ball but it's a weak one and Mensah tries to loop it over Dheeraj but his shot hits the side netting.
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20:40 (IST)
38` Ghana 0-0 India
Aniket with some clever little step over on the edge of the box. Rahul is waiting for the ball near the penalty spot but Aniket's pass is weak and the ball is cleared away. Yakubu glides to the goalline and puts in a good ball but Anwar Ali sticks a foot out and sends it behind for a corner.
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20:35 (IST)
33` Ghana 0-0 India
That's a bad one from Boris. He goes for a high ball on the edge of the box with his boot and concedes a free kick in the process. He also picks up a yellow card but thankfully for him, Ayiah sends the set piece high and wide.
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Priyansh, Correspondent from New Delhi
20:32 (IST)
30` Ghana 0-0 India
Ghana's asymmetrical 4-3-3 formation is asking plenty of questions of India. Fortunately for the host, it has evaded any serious damage till now. Skipper Eric Ayiah, who is a natural centre forward, is playing a role he has been asked to undertake in previous matches – shift to the left in search of space. It is Ibrahim Sulley, one of the inclusions for this match, who is positioned centrally in the final third. However, it must worry the coach Samuel Fabin that the profligacy we saw in Ghana’s previous games continues to haunt the side.
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20:31 (IST)
28` Ghana 0-0 India
Aniket is the lone striker for India and he's doing all he can to press the Ghanian defence and win the ball. It's going to be a long night for the Kolhapuri lad.
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Kaushal Shukla, Firstpost correspondent DY Patil Stadium
20:28 (IST)
24` USA level against Colombia!
The United States are level!! Geroge Acosta ensures his side's patience pays off. The US had been probing the South Americans for a while now and the efforts have yielded fruit. For India situation doesn't change though. They need a win by two-goals just to finish in third place in Group A.
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20:24 (IST)
22` Ghana 0-0 India
Alhassan tries a speculative one from the left and it goes millimetres above the crossbar but Dheeraj always had it in control.
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20:22 (IST)
A break in the game after 15 minutes provides a breather for everyone here. It has been an energetic start and India has certainly demonstrated its intent to fight, although there is a discernible gap in quality. Aniket Jadhav is leading the line today with Nongdamba Naorem and KP Rahul marshalling the flanks. The inclusion of Naorem gives India added pace on the right, where fullback Boris Thangjam has already made quite an impression.
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20:21 (IST)
20` Ghana 0-0 India
Nongdamba with some good footwork in the middle of the pitch and he lays if off to Boris. The right-back takes it forward and tries a shot from long but there's no power on the shot to trouble Danlad.
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20:18 (IST)
17` Ghana 0-0 India
Suresh wins India a free-kick from a promising position. Aniket looks to shoot but his shot is blocked close to the goalkeeper Danlad and India win a throw. Ghana boot the ball clear and Boris wins a free-kick in India's half. Sadiq Ibrahim goes down with a knock and there's a pause in play.
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Priyansh, Correspondent from New Delhi
20:13 (IST)
13` Ghana 0-0 India
Contentious offside decision. On the replay, it looks like Ayiah may have been marginally offside. The Ghana bench was furious, though. Coach Samuel Fabin could not believe the goal was ruled offside. However, the move has punctured India’s enthusiastic start. Ghana’s superior pace and physicality is giving it an obvious advantage.
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20:12 (IST)
10` Ghana 0-0 India
Ghana are moving the ball quickly and Indian defence needs to be on their toes tonight. Ayiah has been flagged offside twice already.
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Kaushal Shukla, Firstpost correspondent DY Patil Stadium
20:09 (IST)
Bad news coming for India early on from Mumbai where Colombia have taken the lead against the United States. Juan Vidal scoring after capitalising on some sloppy US defending. As things stand India need a three-goal win against Ghana just to finish third in Group A.
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20:08 (IST)
5` Ghana 0-0 India
Eric Ayiah puts the ball in goal but he's flagged offside much to the relief of India. The ball was given away rather cheaply by Boris which is something the team needs to avoid as Ghana will punish India with the pace they have in attack.
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20:05 (IST)
4` Ghana 0-0 India
Meanwhile, at the DY Patil stadium, Juan Vidal has given Colombia the lead. This is bad news for India as a USA victory will keep the Colts' hopes of qualifying alive. Ghana create their first chance but Dheeraj saves it comfortably.
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20:02 (IST)
Kick-off! Ghana 0-0 India
India get us underway and India win an early corner. Pressure right from the start from India. They take a quick one and the shot from outside the box only needed a touch and Jeakson almost got it. Pouched by Danlad in goal
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Priyansh, Correspondent from New Delhi
19:59 (IST)
A good, noisy turnout for India again. The crowd response, despite the conflicting versions over tickets, has been fantastic in New Delhi. The Indian boys seemed a bit overawed by the occasion in the opening game but there was a sense that they fed off the crowd's energy against Colombia. As Ghana is expected to be the host's toughest opponent, it will be important that the crowd rallies behind India here.
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19:55 (IST)
A huge cheer goes around the JLN as the teams walk out on to the pitch. This, probably (but hopefully not) the last time these fans see an Indian team play in a FIFA World Cup. The players line up for the national anthems and we are moments away from kick-off!
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19:53 (IST)
Meanwhile, at the DY Patil Stadium, our correspondents Shivam Damohe and Kaushal Shukla are reviewing Group B and also talking about India's chances of qualifying for the Round of 16.
19:48 (IST)
The Indian team is out warming up.
19:46 (IST)
Here's an explainer of the overall qualification criteria and scenarios for each groups of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 going into the final round
Priyansh, Correspondent from New Delhi
19:45 (IST)
India make four changes again to its side for this must-win game. Anwar Ali returns in central defence at Namit Deshpande's expense. Nongdamba Naorem and Aniket Jadhav are rewarded for their enterprising displays from the bench against Colombia. Suresh Wangjam is also back in the starting eleven as Ninthoinganba Meetei, Abhijit Sarkar and Rahim Ali make way.
Ghana's coach Samuel Fabin has also chosen to rejuvenate his side after the defeat to the US. Four changes see the exclusion of exciting forward Aminu Mohammed. One of the decisions, though, has been forced on the coach as Abdul Yusif was knocked unconscious in the previous match. Edmund Arko-Mensah comes into the team.
Preview: India are bracing up for another tough test against Ghana on Thursday as they need a win by a big margin to keep their hopes alive for qualification to the Round-of-16 of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
India have suffered two losses from as many games in Group A, against the United States (0-3) and Colombia (1-2) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The US leads the group with six wins, while Ghana and Colombia have three points each.
Hence, India will not only have to win by a big margin but also hope that Colombia loses to the US by a big margin in the other match of the day. If the two teams end up with the same number of points, goal difference will be taken into consideration.
Luis Norton de Matos' boys have, however, won hearts all over for their brave show against higher-ranked Colombia. Jeakson Singh Thounaojam etched his name in Indian history books by becoming the first goal-scorer in a FIFA World Cup of any age-group.
With ambition running high in the squad, the Colts are aiming for nothing less than a win that would eventually propel them into contention of progression.
"We will go for nothing less than a win. We have shown the world that we belong on the same page as them and now we want to show that we can win against them," insisted head coach Matos.
"Ghana will be a physical as well as a mental challenge for us. They (Ghana) are a strong physical team who are quick on the ball. We would have to be on our toes for the entirety of the match if we are to secure a win," he added.
"However, the boys are ready for the challenge that will be thrown in front of them. We will give it our all and aim to create history once again."
Central midfielder and skipper Amarjit Singh added: "We have the utmost respect for our opponents but we will give them a very tough fight, even tougher than we gave Colombia.
"It is a matter of survival and we will do anything to go into the next round."
Ghana like to play fast football, using the pacy flank players Sadiq Ibrahim and Aminu Mohammed. Captain Eric Ayiah is a dangerous customer up front. To contain these two will demand superb performances from India's backline of Boris Singh, Namit Deshpande, Anwar Ali and Sanjeev Stalin. India's goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem will also have to be on guard.
Jeakson and Amarjit will start in midfield, while right-winger Ninthoinganba Meetei has earned his place. Attacking midfielder Abhijit Sarkar is also a certainty and the battle for the left wing spot will be between Rahul Kannoly or Komal Thatal.
It is also not clear whom Matos will put up front. It looks like Rahim Ali will earn second consecutive chance ahead of Aniket Jadhav.
Mohun Bagan academy product Rahim impressed with his pressing against Colombia and Matos may field him again from the start against Ghana defenders Gideon Acquah, Gideon Mensah and Abdul Yusif and create problems for goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim.
Goalkeeper Dheeraj called for even more support from India crowd against Ghana.
"Against Ghana, we will need a lot of support. We will give it our very best on the pitch. I expect all to be cheering for us like they have done for us. We won't disappoint them. Come and back the blue," he said.
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