Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Thiruvananthapuram: India remain on course for a seventh SAFF Championship title after edging Maldives 3-2 in the semi-finals to book their place in Sunday’s final.
Being the most successful side in the history of the tournament with six titles to their names, as well as being hosts of the 2015/16 edition, India were always expected to be genuine contenders for the crown once more.
Nonetheless, they were up against legitimate challengers at the Trivandrum International Stadium in the form of the Maldives, who have advanced to the last four in all of their appearances at the SAFF Championship.
It was the hosts who broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when talismanic skipper Sunil Chhetri once again popped up with a vital goal, nodding home after being left unmarked at the back post following an excellent right-wing cross by Holicharan Nazary.
Holicharan was again the provider as the Blue Tigers doubled their lead in the 33rd-minute with the Dempo Sports Club striker playing a lovely over-the-top ball for Jeje Lalpekhlua, who made no mistake in finishing past Mohamed Imran.
The 2008 SAFF champions did manage to pull one back right on the stroke of halftime when some slack India defending allowed Ahmed Niyaz to feed a pass to Ahmed Nashid, who duly found the back of the net to make it 2-1.
But India continued to be the more dominant of the two teams and managed to restore their two-goal advantage in the 65th minute when Lalpekhlua struck again, with the 24-year-old beating Imran once again with a neat finish after eluding Amdhan Ali and Shafiu Ahmed.
Again, the Maldives were able to muster a response as they reduced the arrears ten minutes later after defender Amdhan popped up at the other end to head home a corner.
Still, it proved to be a case of too little too late as India held out for the victory to advance to their 10th SAFF Championship final, and are now one match away from a record-extending seventh crown.
Photo: Lagardère Sports