India out of FIFA U17 Women's World Cup after 3-0 loss to Morocco

Angel Martinez - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

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Hosts India are out of the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup after a 3-0 loss to Morocco in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Doha El Madani (51', P), captain Yasmine Zouhir (62') and Djennah Cherif (90+1') were Morocco's goalscorers.

Going into the match, Thomas Dennerby had rung in the changes from the first game loss to the US, and it appeared to show on the field. The match started at a feverish pace, with both sides going end-to-end, everyone crunching into tackles, India pressing high and Morocco looking to exploit the space in behind.

With Neha on the left, Nitu Linda on the right and Anita Kumari down the middle, India had pace upfront, and they led the high press admirably. In the eighth minute, it almost paid off, when Anita's pressure forced Fatima El Ghazouani (who was heroic in defeat to Brazil on Tuesday) into a mistake. Nitu seized on it, ran at the defence before seeing her shot blocked out for a corner - which was then wasted. Three minutes later Neha swung in a delicious freekick from out wide that somehow missed everyone in the box and sailed wide. The pressing continued to give glimpses of opportunities to India but the final ball remained elusive.

At the other end, though, Morocco were a constant threat with their pace down the flanks but many of their moves ended with tame shots from range which hardly troubled Melody Chanu in the Indian goal or early crosses with no one in the box to receive it. In the 21st minute, though, a mistake from Melody saw Mina El Hamzaoui take the ball around the keeper, only to be forced wide. Her cross back into the box pinballed around till Zouhir thundered a shot off the crossbar and out.

That was the closest either side got to scoring, as it ended goalless after a rather eventful half.

Morocco came out with (even) more intent in the second half, pushing their defensive line higher and forcing India on the back foot. This paid off within five minutes. After a spell of sustained pressure, Shilky Devi smashed into Cherif, the ball bounced up and Naketa parried it away with her arm. The ref pointed to the spot without hesistation, and with VAR not overruling it, El Madani stepped up and calmly passed it into the corner of the net.

Ten minutes later Naketa came perilously close to conceding another but timed her tackle on El Madani superbly. Soon, though, a cross in from Samya Masnaoui was spilt by Chanu, and Zouhir could hardly miss from a yard out.

India continued to create moves around the Moroccan box, but the final touch was still lacking. In the 83rd minute, substitute Lynda Kom played a superb ball around the corner of the last defender to Anita Kumari, who ran in - decided not to pass in a three-on-three situation - and shot at the near post, only for Wissal Titah to save brilliantly with her feet.

The game was tapering towards a slow end when Morocco suddenly upped the ante. Winning the ball in midfield, a quick through ball fed Cherif, who easily outpaced her marker, cut into the box and slammed a good finish into the roof of the net.

Earlier USA and Brazil had played out a 1-1 draw, meaning both are on four points. Morocco, with three, have a chance to make history but will face the might of US on Monday in their final group match. India's last match of the Cup, meanwhile, will be against Brazil on Monday at the Kalinga stadium.