In a thrilling encounter at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday, India managed to secure a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Nepal in the SAFF Championship.
The Indian team faced a tough challenge from the determined Nepal side, who were cheered on by a passionate crowd. India made several changes to their lineup from their previous dominant win against Pakistan, with only Sunil Chhetri, Anirudh Thapa, and Sahal Abdul Samad retaining their spots. As a result, the Indian players struggled to find their rhythm in the first half.
The Indian team exhibited a lack of cohesion as they held onto the ball for too long, opting for individual plays instead of team passes. Both Thapa and Rohit Kumar made mistakes with their passes, while Sahal attempted solo runs multiple times. In a desperate attempt to rejuvenate his team, Chhetri made a lung-busting run to regain possession but was unable to make a significant impact. Also Read: Unveiling the Legends: World Cup Winning Captains Since 1975
Surprisingly, it was Nepal who had the better scoring opportunities in the first half. Devendra Tamang’s volley from outside the penalty area forced a save from Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Bimal Magar missed a golden chance from close range.
The second half started in a similar fashion, and just as assistant coach Mahesh Gawli was contemplating making substitutions, Chhetri broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. He expertly converted a low cross from Mahesh from the left flank, giving India the lead. This goal completely changed the momentum of the game.
India quickly capitalized on their advantage and extended their lead. After Chhetri’s shot hit the crossbar, the ball deflected off Mahesh and found its way into the net in the 70th minute. This goal deflated Nepal’s spirit, and they struggled to mount a comeback against India’s resilient defense.
With this crucial victory, India secured a spot in the semifinals alongside Kuwait, who had earlier defeated Pakistan 4-0 in their Group A match.
Overall, it was a hard-fought contest between India and Nepal, with India’s determination and clinical finishing ultimately earning them the well-deserved victory.
Final Score:
India 2 (Chhetri 61, Naorem Mahesh 70) defeated Nepal 0.
Kuwait 4 (Al Enezi 10, Al Faneni 17, 45, Al Rashedi 69) defeated Pakistan.
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