Lalawmpuia scores four but India lose on penalties to Kazakhstan in U-15 World Cup Tier C semi-final
Victor Lalawmpuia scored four goals as India drew 5-5 with Kazakhstan but lost 4-5 on penalties in the Tier C semi-final for positions 85 to 88 at the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026 at the Hovsan Competition Complex Pitch 6A in Baku on Thursday, October 29, 2026. India recovered from 0-3 to lead 4-3 at half-time before Kazakhstan struck twice after the restart and prevailed in sudden death after both sides missed their fifth penalties.
India began the match on the front foot, R Lalremruatfela testing the Kazakhstan goalkeeper in the second minute with a shot parried for a corner while Nibas Meetei Wahengbam also threatened from distance as India looked to build pressure through attacking play and set pieces. Kazakhstan, however, soon gained control with combinations involving Abzal Adilkhan, Artur Abdusheyev and Alikhan Kuandyk.
Kazakhstan opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Dhannya Desai could not hold Adilkhan’s powerful strike and Kuandyk converted the rebound. India conceded again three minutes later when Nara Meitei Loushambam failed to control Desai’s pass under pressure and Kuandyk finished into an empty net. The visitors extended their lead to 3-0 in the 10th minute after a left-sided move involving Adilkhan and Seydazym, with the rebound falling to Abdusheyev who finished from inside the box.
India responded with four goals before half-time to turn the game around. Birjit Singh Amom intercepted a pass in the 12th minute and released Nibas, whose cut-back found Lalawmpuia to score into an unguarded net; Lalawmpuia then added a second in the 15th minute after intercepting a pass and firing into the top-right corner. R Lalremruatfela levelled in the 18th minute with an individual run and finish, and Lalawmpuia completed a hat-trick in the final minute of the half following a Nibas interception and pass.
Kazakhstan pulled the match back after the interval, equalising in the 27th minute when Bagitzhan set up Kuandyk to complete his own hat-trick, before Zhangir Serik restored the visitors’ lead two minutes later with a long-range effort. Deepak Singh Arambam’s corner produced Lalawmpuia’s fourth goal three minutes from time; Lalawmpuia’s fourth goal in the 37th minute made it 5-5 and sent the contest to penalties.
In the shootout India’s Nara, Victor, Birjit and Muhammad Sohil Khan converted their first four kicks while Kazakhstan’s Kuandyk, Abdusheyev, Adilkhan and Abibulla Zeynulla also scored. R Lalremruatfela then struck the crossbar with India’s fifth penalty and Serik hit the post for Kazakhstan, leaving the shootout level at 4-4. In sudden death Soumojit Sarkar’s effort was saved by the Kazakhstan goalkeeper before Zhanseit Abuzhusip converted the decisive kick to end the contest 5-4 in favour of Kazakhstan.
India’s starting eight against Kazakhstan were Dhannya Desai (GK), Nara Meitei Loushambam, Muhammad Sohil Khan (C), Soumojit Sarkar, Birjit Singh Amom, R Lalremruatfela, Nibas Meetei Wahengbam and Victor Lalawmpuia; substitutes listed were Jenit Ningthoujam (GK), Pratham Kumar, Macdonnish Ngairangbam, C Lalhmingropuia, Ronandev Aheibam and Deepak Singh Arambam.
India will now face Cuba in their 10th and final fixture of the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival — the 87th place play-off — on Friday, October 29 at 14:15 IST, with the match due to be streamed live on dazn.com.