India lose 0-1 to Portuguese club side

The touring Indian football team went down 0-1 to Portuguese second division side Clube Desportivo de Mafra in their second practice match of the week at the Mafra ground in Lisbon on Thursday.

Mafra striker Bonifacio scored the only goal of the match in the 52nd minute to hand India only their second defeat in the two-month training-cum-competition tour of Portugal.

Against Marfa, India coach Bob Houghton rested almost all the players who were part of the starting eleven that beat Uniao Desportiva da Serra 3-1 on Wednesday.

India started off with Arindam Bhattacharya in goal, with Deepak Mondal as right-wing-back. Mahesh Gawli and Govind Singh took guard of the heart of the defence, while N Mohanraj was given the responsibility of the left flank.

The midfield comprised Steven Dias (on the right), Climax Lawrence and Baldeep Singh (centre) and James Singh (left wing half) while Houghton fielded two new strikers in Mohammed Rafi and Sushil Kumar Singh.

Determined not to give an edge, both the teams took a cautious approach which resulted in a goalless opening half.

However, after the breather the visitors were taken aback as Bonifacio found the back of Indian net in the 52nd minute.

India had earlier defeated another second division side Uniao Desportiva da Serra 3-1 on Wednesday, with striker Sunil Chettri scoring a brace of goals.