The Russian football team humbled their Indian counterparts 8-0 in a group match of the Valentin Granatkin Memorial cup at the Under 17 level, according to reports.

The margin could have increased if not for some missed chances.

Before the referee blew the whistle for half time, it was already 5-0 even with Russia losing a penalty just before the official called time on the game. Russia showed their superiority clearly from the get go as they scored their first in the second minute. India were too stunned to respond and barely stood any chance against their hosts.

The All India Football Federation report said the second goal of the game was in the 12th minute as Russia continued their purposeful attack on their opponents. Two other quick goals happened in the 21st and 25th minute to effectively cripple any thoughts of coming back into the game by the Indians.

The Indians could only pray that worse things did not happen but surely that prayer was not to be answered with the level of intensity the Russian teenagers approached the match. They were simply mythical, talented like the Brazilians and efficient like the Germans.

Russia scored their fifth of the game in the 31st minute before letting India off the hook for a while. Just before the first half ended, they won a penalty but lost it. Their coach must have warned them during the break to get as much goals as possible as it was a group game. This is because they responded almost immediately as the second half began. By the 67th minute, they had netted seven times. The game proceeded slowly as both sides seemed tired but Russia insisted and scored one more goal – their eight – in the final minutes of the game before the referee ended the duel.

India will have another go when they face Belarus next week.