India U-23 colts face Tajikistan in must-win match

India U-23 team will look to shrug off the first-match disappointment when it takes on Tajikistan in a "do-or-die" fixture here Sunday.

The India colts had lost to defending champions Uzbekistan in the first match.

"It's a very crucial game for us. It's more important given the current standing of the table," Head coach Derrick Pereira said.

"You might say it's do-or-die for us. We'll surely try to put in our best performance and see what awaits us."

After fighting valiantly in the first 45 minutes, the Indian boys eventually went down 0-3 against Uzbekistan.

Looking back. Pereira feels 'inexperience' cost the team dearly.

"Uzbekistan were physically stronger, and technically better than us. Our inexperience cost us the match. We have got two chances in the first half. Had we converted, we could have got an edge," he explained.

Unlike other groups in the qualifiers, group F comprises of only three teams which makes every single game hugely crucial in their pursuit of a berth in the ...