Top seeds in stalemate
The match between the two top ranked teams at the Nehru Cup promised an entertaining encounter but difficult playing conditions at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium reduced it to a sideshow as Cameroon and Syria played out a 2-2 draw here on Friday.
It, though, had flashes of brilliance like the two first-half goals. Striker Kingue Mpondo gave the Indomitable lions generated immense power on a header from a corner in the 17th minute which Syrian goalkeeper and captain Mosab Balhous had no answer to.
Syria then produced a similar effort when medio Alaa Alshbbli sent a diving header into the Cameroon net from a free kick by Ouday Abduljaffal in the 42nd minute.
Both teams upped their intensity in the second half and Cameroon led again when Syrian goalkeeper Balhous brought down Kologny Vigny Merime inside the box and Ebanga Bertin converted from the spot to put his team ahead.
Syria, however, eked out an equaliser in the 80th minute. On a free kick by Mohd Zubaida, Cameroon keeper Ngome N. Lawrence failed to clear and Abduljaffal sent a right-footer into the net to the delight of his team members.
On Saturday, an upbeat India take on Maldives in their second match with both teams having begun on a winning note.
While India produced a 2-1 win over Syria, their first ever over the 147 ranked team in the opener, Maldives got the better of Nepal by a similar margin.
India coach Wim Koevermans will hope that the rains gods spare the match to allow his team execute the plans better. The Dutchman had to change plans after heavy showers made the pass and play game impossible in the opener. Skipper Sunil Chettri’s form will be a big boost for the twice defending champions and he will be the focal point of the coach’s strategies.
India showed strength in the midfield with Mehtab Hossian and Francis Fernandes but the rain negated the advantage in the second half. The attacking from the flanks through Clifford Miranda and debutant Sanju Pradhan was impressive and a lot will depend on them providing decent crosses to Chhetri. There were some lapses in the defence and Koevermans will look to plug the loopholes. However, with a safe pair of hands in goalkeeper Subrata Paul, the opponents will have to produce something brilliant to get the ball into the net.
India will have to keep a check on Maldives captain Asfaq Ali, who is capable of making solo runs all the way.
Live on TV
India vs Maldives
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