Highlights IND vs NEP, SAFF C’ship 2023: Chhetri-Naorem shines in 2-0 win; Blue Tigers to semi-finals
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India vs Nepal, SAFF 2023: The Indian senior men’s team secured a spot in the semi-finals of the 2023 Bangabandhu SAFF Championship on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Nepal in Group A.
AS IT HAPPENED | India vs Nepal 2023 SAFF Championship
BENGALURU: The Indian senior men’s team booked a spot in the semi-finals of the 2023 Bangabandhu SAFF Championship with a 2-0 victory over Nepal in Group A on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
With this victory, India extended their unbeaten run at home to 12 matches. Since September 5, 2019, when India lost to Nepal, no other international team has been able to leave the field in India with a taste of victory against the hosts.
After a first half that saw the Blue Tigers frustrated by the tenacious Nepalese defence, goals from captain Sunil Chhetri and Naorem Mahesh Singh scored the three points after the break for the hosts, who had assistant coach Mahesh Gawli on the sideline in place of the suspended Igor Stimac.
Kuwait defeated Pakistan 4-0 earlier in the day to advance from Group A to India in the semi-finals. Nepal, finalists of the previous edition, are eliminated.
There were no less than eight changes on the side of India who got past Pakistan 4-0 in the opener. Only hat-trick hero Sunil Chhetri, Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad remained with the eleven. In the all new backline, Rahul Bheke got his first start of the month.
The match started at a more leisurely pace than three days earlier. India expected to see plenty of possession in the early stages and most of the attacks came from the left wing, with Akash Mishra, Naorem Mahesh Singh and Sahal occasionally going wide.
The latter squandered the game’s first big chance in the 16th minute when Akash cut the ball back from the touchline, but could only play it sideways wide.
In the next minute, Nepal shot on target for the first time as Mehtab Singh’s clearance fell for Arik Bista, whose first volley was well saved by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
Nepal had Manish Dangi causing problems for India from the right flank. On one such occasion, his low cross was met with a vital interception by Rohit Kumar, allowing the hosts to go forward on the counter-attack. In a three-on-three situation, Sahal took a little too long to figure out a pass and was dispossessed by the visitors.
India came out a much more rejuvenated side after the break, and after Mahesh’s snapshot from distance flashed just wide, the deadlock was broken in classic fashion in the 61st minute.
Sahal and Mahesh combined well before the latter sent a centimeter-perfect low cross to the center for Sunil Chhetri who netted in his 91st international goal with the simplest of touches.
India finally got into the rhythm and less than 10 minutes later the lead was doubled after a rather bizarre first India goal for Mahesh. While Sahal Chhetri steered cleanly, the skipper took his time before releasing his left foot. The attempt was deflected by goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu and bounced twice off the crossbar before Mahesh fired the ball in from close range.
Limbu was soon called back into action and prevented the fiery Indian attack from registering more goals. He made two strong saves in quick succession to first keep out substitute Lallianzuala Chhangte’s shot from a close corner, before firmly latching on to Bheke’s header from the resulting corner.
India will take on Kuwait in their final Group A match on Tuesday, June 27 at 7:30pm IST to determine who tops the group.
India XI: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Nikhil Poojary (Pritam Kotal 73′), Rahul Bheke, Mehtab Singh, Akash Mishra, Rohit Kumar (Jeakson Singh Thounaojam 63′), Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad (Rahim Ali 82′) , Naorem Mahesh Singh, Sunil Chhetri (C), Udanta Singh (Lallianzuala Chhangte 63′).