Asian Games: Tired legs catch up with Stimac’s boys as India thrashed 5-1 by China in football opener

A tired Indian team, which had only landed in Hangzhou the previous night, put up a brave first-half performance only to hit a wall in the second against a razor-sharp Chinese team who ran out 5-1 victors at the Huanglong Sports Center Stadium on Tuesday. India’s opening defeat was along expected lines, but the negative goal difference of four is now a worry for head coach Igor Stimac and his wards’ hopes of reaching the pre-quarters.

The Chinese U23 team, playing at home at these Asian Games, began strong. Stimac’s team has come into this tournament with the worst possible build-up. With no training sessions and a long layover in Singapore, the Indians just didn’t possess the sharpness required at top-level football.

China had two shots on target in the first 10 minutes – both from their No.10 Tan Long – who found himself between both Indian central defenders on both occasions. His first header was wide of goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh’s right post and his second was aimed straight at the Indian custodian.

But India’s relief lasted just six minutes till they conceded their first goal of the night. A corner – one that should have ideally been cleared by Sandesh Jhingan – fell weakly in the box where captain Gao Tianyi calmly slotted a left-footed half-volley into the Indian net.

The Indians just didn’t have the time to play their way into some form of sharpness. Ayush Chhetri, one of the only two central midfielders in the team, found himself with the ball outside the Indian box, and made a weak back pass which didn’t reach Gurmeet, who had to make a foul in the box to avert a goal. But he was there to stop that resultant penalty in the 22nd minute to keep the scoreline 1-0 in favour of China.

It took 25 minutes but India