Indian football team scores on Portugal tour

The Indian national football team beat Portuguese third division side Desportivo das Caldas 4-1 in their first practice match on their two-month training tour of the Iberian country in Vieria de Leiria.

Abhishek Yadav, Steven Dias, N P Pradeep and Baldeep Singh scored a goal each in the match played at Pilado ground, located some 200km from Portuguese capital of Lisbon on the road to Porto.

India drew first blood in seventh minute when Yadav headed in a Dias cross from the right flank.

The goal spurred the Indians, and in the 16th minute Dias cleverly lobbed the ball over the rival goalkeeper's head to make it 2-0.

Pradeep then fired in a superb 30-yard scorcher in the 38th minute before Desportivo das Caldas pulled one back a minute later as the Indians went for the breather 3-1 up.

After the change of ends, substitute Baldeep Singh rounded off the tally, scoring the fourth goal for India in the 70th minute.

Bob Houghton used 20 players in the match.

The Indians will play against another lower division side, Monsanto, on Friday before leaving for Lisbon on Saturday for another month-long training at Sporting Lisbon facilities.