The Indian football team lost 4-0 to Brazil in a historic international friendly at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday.
Estevao Willian (28’), Pedro (42’) and Samuel Lino (58’, 90+5’) scored for the world No. 5 visitors in the first-ever senior men’s international football meeting between India and Brazil.
Nicknamed the Canarinho, or Little Canary, after their iconic yellow shirts, the Brazil football team faced an Indian side ranked 133 places below them but the Blue Tigers held firm for much of the opening half-hour.
India remained compact without the ball and also looked to break whenever opportunities presented themselves.
Manvir Singh made a promising run behind the Brazilian defence in the 15th minute, only for experienced centre-back Marquinhos to recover and snuff out the opportunity.
At the other end, Vinicius Junior provided five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil’s biggest early threat. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu denied the Real Madrid forward twice as India kept the visitors scoreless through the opening 27 minutes.
The resistance was finally broken in the 28th minute.
Estevao Willian cut in from the right and unleashed a powerful left-footed effort which Gurpreet got a hand to but could not keep out.
Pedro struck the woodwork eight minutes later before doubling Brazil’s advantage three minutes before the interval. Estevao turned provider with a through ball and Pedro finished to send the visitors into half-time with a 2-0 lead.
India made three changes at the break, with Prabhsukhan Singh Gill replacing Gurpreet in goal for his senior international debut. Mohammed Sanan and Jay Gupta also came on.
Brazil, meanwhile, withdrew Vinicius Junior among several half-time changes.
The Blue Tigers showed more attacking intent after the restart.
Ryan Williams tested Pedro Morisco with a low shot before Manvir forced the Brazilian goalkeeper into a save from a tight angle.
Brazil made it 3-0 in the 58th minute after India surrendered possession while trying to play out from the back. Lino pounced on the error before curling his finish past Gill.
The Indian football team nevertheless continued to push for a goal. Williams saw an effort cleared off the line in the 64th minute and went close again three minutes later after combining neatly with Manvir.
Brazil controlled possession for much of the closing stages, while Gill made a good save to deny Vanderson in stoppage time.
Lino eventually added his second with virtually the final action of the match in the 95th minute to complete Brazil’s 4-0 victory.
The result came eight days after India held world No. 44 Panama to a 1-1 draw in Bengaluru.
Khalid Jamil’s Blue Tigers will conclude the international window against two-time world champions Uruguay in Kolkata on Tuesday.