Chhetri brace sinks islanders
Defending champions India delivered a commanding performance in their second match of the Nehru Cup against the Maldives, romping to a 3-0 win at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday.
Defender Syed Rahim Nabi played a starring role in the win as he created India’s first goal, albeit through luck, and scored the second goal too. Skipper Sunil Chhetri struck on either side of Nabi’s goal to complete the rout. The first half was played out on an equal footing with both teams making inroads into the other half but unable to surge ahead until luck swung it India’s way in the last minute.
In the 14th minute, Maldives captain Asfaq Ali got a through ball from Ali Ashadh but defender Raju Gaikwad marked his man perfectly to push the ball for a corner. Two minutes later, Ali was clear of the defence with a cross from Umair Mohamed but goalkeeper Subrata Paul foiled the attempt.
Ali was was in action again in the 34th minute when Abdulla Asadhulla beat three defenders to generate a real chance for his captain but he slipped. India had a solid chance in the 35th minute when a pass from midfielder Sanju Pradhan was headed towards Francisco Fernandes by Chhetri but the attempt ended in the hands of the Maldives keeper. Just three minutes before the end of the first half, defender Nirmal Chhetri sent a diagonal cross to Nabi in the left flank but all it produced was a goal kick for the Maldives.
Just seconds before the break, India got the opening they were looking for. On a final move before the whistle, Nabi sent a cross from the left flank which deflected off the hand of a Maldives defender. Chhetri made no mistake to put India ahead.
The second half was played at a much faster pace as the hosts made their first substitution by bringing in debutant Robin Singh for Pradhan. The youngster made his presence felt immediately as he combined well with Chettri and Fernandes up front.
Just nine minutes into the second half, Nabi rose to a Clifford Miranda corner and deposited the ball into the net for India’s second goal. India’s third deflated Maldivan hopes of a comeback. Fernandes took a Nirmal Chhetri throw-in from near the midfield line in the 70th minute and passed it to his skipper inside the Maldives box who sealed the result with a header.
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