India TFA White, one of the tournament favourities, rallied strongly to get the better of India TFA Blue 2-1 in a league encounter in the under-19 JRD Tata international football tournament in Jamshedpur on Wednesday.
ITB, comprising six Tata Football Academy cadets, dominated the initial session and took the lead in the 24th minute through striker P C Lalampuiya, but failed to hold their own in the latter half of the well-contested exchange at the JRD Tata Sports complex.
Their only strike came after medio Khentan Paite was brought down by a TFA White defender outside the box. Indian referee Binod Kumar Singh awarded a free-kick, and Paite's set-piece hit the post. Lalampuiya, lurking inside the box, promptly latched on to the ball and bulged the net.
The Stephen Constantine-coached ITW, who rested their key players ahead of the crucial match against Uzbekistan on September 19, lacked cohesion in the opening session, but regrouped well after the breather with the introduction of Malsawama and Gourmangi Singh in place of Chitrasen and Sayantan Das Roy respectively.
Malsawama, with his superb skill and thrust, kept the rival defence on their toes and finally restored parity for the Whites in the 67th minute. In a sole move, he tore apart the Blues' defence and fired a right-footer that rammed into the net.
IFA White intensified their attack and scored the match-winner through a Vimal Pariyar header minutes before the long whistle.
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