AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The All India Football Federation Elite Academy lost 3-0 in their inaugural Frenz international cup tie to the Argentine Club, Estudiantes De La Plata at UITM Shah Alam, Malaysia on Sunday (January 4, 2015).

The Red-white strips played a splendid system with a tiki-taka football from the off, with their skipper Ascacibar Santiago spraying heaps of passes to generate constant pressure on the AIFF through the defensive midfield role.

Despite the imminent threats triggered by the Argentines, the first of the early chances fell to the Academy Boys; Moinudduin evaded his marker in the penalty area on Hayden Fernandes freekick but to head the ball whistling past the goal post.

The blue print strategised by the AIFF to stop the mighty Argentines botched terribly as the AIFF defence was cracked-open by Estudiantes; playing with the 4-6-0 False 9 ploy.

The Argentines launched series of attacks through the wings by taking the full benefit of an additional man in the midfield.

The deadlock was brokeen in the 25^th Minute; when the AIFF’s defence was entirely bewildered by opponent’s quick exchanges. Marinelli Alberto latched onto a clumsy clearance by the AIFF’s Sarthak Golui to slaughter it past the goalkeeper.

The AIFF Elite academy succeeded to keep the opponents at bay until, Lazzarini Emiliano stunned the whole AIFF defence with an exceptional header at the top corner from Juan Francisco’s cross from the right.

AIFF Academy were trailing 2-0 to Estudiantes at halftime.

After the restart, the high temperature and spasms was the main ingredient of the story. Although both the players tumbling down on the field; the pace remained unaffected.

In the 74^th minute, it was Jaun Francisco again who set up Miranda Fernando; the meticulous winger had the best of the chances of the game and did not squander; the swashbuckler slotted it home to make it 3-0 for the Estudiantes.

The Academy will be facing Tottenham Hotspur in their second round robin match in the group D on January 6 2015.