Josh Sargent after opening the scoring for the Americans. NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 6 (AGENCIES): India lost to team USA 3-0 in the opening day of the Under-17 World Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The US team almost took the lead in the 4th minute. The Indian defence was caught napping but Josh Sargent could only hit it straight at keeper Dheeraj who did well to make himself big. It was one-way traffic with the US players passing the ball patiently among themselves. They won a free-kick at the edge of the box but Sargent hit straight at the wall, signaling that the match could be a difficult 90 minutes for the Indian defence. Jitendra Singh ade a nervous start as he gave the ball away in his half consecutive moments. Josh Sargent found himself in a one-on-one situation but goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh made himself big and took the shot on the chest. Josh Sargent won a penalty after a clumsy foul from Jitendra Singh. Sargent, who is joining Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in January, stepped up and sent Dheeraj the wrong way. India looked more dangerous with Komal Thatal but the blonde-haired winger needed more support from his teammates if India was to have any chance of coming back into the match. India got their first shot on target after 41 minutes as Aniket Jadhav hit one from outside the box but the ball rolled kindly for Garces in goal. The US dominated India in the first half but the Boys in Blue managed to create some chances in the final fifteen minutes. Komal Thatal was India's best player on the pitch but he needed more support from his teammates. Komal almost pulled one back from India in the second half. The lanky winger ghosted in behind Durkin and latched on to a long ball from midfield. Graces came off his line and Komal looked to loop it into goal. Too much power from Komal and the ball sailed over for a goal-kick. The decibel level had gone up a notch after that chance. A hint of bad luck put India two goals behind early in the second half. Keeper Dheeraj Singh may have had a chance to stop Chris Durkin's left-footed half volley but Anwar Ali's presence in front of him produced a deflection. Things went to worse for the hosts as Andrew Carleton made it 3 goals to nil in favour of the USA in the 84th minute.
