Danial Patel's Remarkable Journey at FIFAe World Cup Concludes in Semi-Finals

Riyadh, Dec 12 (NationPress) In the inaugural FIFAe World Cup ft. eFootball - Mobile, India's Danial Patel delivered an impressive performance that came to an end in the semi-finals after losing to Malaysia at the SEF Arena here on Wednesday.
The 17-year-old, who dominated the group stage by scoring 20 goals and finishing in second place, staged a remarkable comeback against YUSA from Turkiye in the quarter-finals. The knockout rounds followed a best-of-three format.
Turkiye claimed the first match 2-1 in extra time, although Danial equalized with the final kick of the game during normal time. He rebounded strongly in the second match, and after a tense, scoreless 90 minutes, he secured a 1-0 victory in extra time, forcing a decisive third match. The final game was a commanding display as Danial surged to a two-goal lead by halftime, while Turkiye struggled to mount a comeback, allowing him to advance to the last four.
In the semi-finals, India faced Malaysia's Minbappe, the only unbeaten player in the tournament up to that point, with seven wins and two draws leading into the quarter-finals.
The first match made it evident that Malaysia posed the greatest challenge Danial faced during the World Cup. Although the Indian player started strong with an early lead, Malaysia ultimately triumphed 3-1. The second match was incredibly close, necessitating penalties to determine the winner. Danial again took the lead in the first half, but Malaysia quickly equalized. With no goals until the end of extra time, the first-ever shootout in World Cup history ensued. Despite Danial having two of his first three penalties saved, he netted the next four, winning 5-4 and forcing another decisive game.
The third and final match was perhaps the most exhilarating of the tournament. Danial's start was rocky as he conceded two goals early on. However, he staged another impressive comeback with two rapid goals in the second half, leveling the score at 2-2 and leaving Malaysia on the back foot. Just as the game seemed destined for extra time, Malaysia's player executed a stunning play, breaking through the Indian defense and scoring the winning goal in the 87th minute.
Malaysia will go on to face Morocco in the final of the FIFAe World Cup ft. eFootball - Mobile on Thursday.
Results of India's (Danial Patel) matches in the 2024 FIFAe World Cup ft. eFootball - Mobile:
Group Stage
India 7-0 England
India 4-1 Japan
India 3-2 Indonesia
India 5-0 Spain
India 0-0 Korea Republic
India 1-5 Costa Rica
India 0-1 Brazil
Quarter-finals (Best of three)
India 1-2 Türkiye (aet)
India 1-0 Türkiye (aet)
India 2-0 Türkiye
Semi-finals (Best of three)
India 1-3 Malaysia
India 1-1 Malaysia (5-4 pens)
India 2-3 Malaysia