SAFF Championship 2013: Bangladesh 1-1 India – Sunil Chhetri rescues point for defending champions

An injury-time free-kick from captain Sunil Chhetri earned India a 1-1 draw against Bangladesh in their second match of SAFF Championship 2013 at the Halchowk Stadium in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

India started the game well but were outplayed in the second half as Bangladesh deservingly went in front through Aiqur Rahaman Meshu. Six-time record champions and holders India looked set for their first defeat in the group stage since 2009 but Sunil rescued a point in the third minute of stoppage time.

Wim Koevermans made just one change to the team that started against Pakistan with Jewel Raja starting in place of Alwyn George just behind lone striker Sunil, while Nallappan Mohanraj kept his place at left-back despite having a poor game last time out.

Like the game against Pakistan, India started strongly in this match too, with Francis Fernandes creating the first chance of the game in the eighth minute. The in-form Salgaocar wide-man’s pinpoint cross found an unmarked Sunil but the skipper couldn’t find the target.

A minute later, Francis once again got away from Bangladesh’s left-back Waly Faisal and played in a decent low cross but Raja’s attempt was weak.

Bangladesh were not really threatening in the final third until Nirmal Chettri was nearly caught out by a diagonal cross but the India right-back recovered well to deny Toklis Ahmed a clean shot on goal.

But the best chance of the half fell to India’s standout performer Francis. A long throw from Mohanraj was spilled by Bangladeshi goalkeeper Mamun Khan, and the loose ball fell to the India midfielder but he couldn’t hit the target.

The Bengal Tigers had their first effort on goal eight minutes after the interval, with Ameli heading Mobarak Hossain Bhuiya’s cross. At the other end, skipper Sunil wasted a good chance as he couldn’t test the Bangladeshi goalkeeper after getting on the end of Raja’s flick on.

A minute later Bangladesh nearly opened the scoring as an indirect free-kick took a deflection off Gouramangi but was brilliantly saved by Subrata Pal for a corner.

Koevermans replaced Jeje with Dawson Fernandes but Bangladesh were looking more dangerous. Their best chance of the game came midway through the second half, when Bhuiya easily went past Mohanraj and played a low cross into the six-year box, but Ameli missed from close range.

India just couldn’t get going in the second half but did have a couple of chances with Francis and Raja wasting them.

Bangladesh skipper Mamunul Islam was introduced in the last ten minutes and had an instant impact as his side took the lead from his corner. India failed to clear the set-piece and the loose ball was bundled into the back of the net by Meshu via a deflection.

India looked set for a disappointing result with the introduction of Robin Singh also not having any impact. But Sunil won a late free-kick and scored, with what was virtually the last kick of the match, to save his team’s blushes.

Bangladesh: Mamun Khan, Nasiruddin Chowdhury (Ariful Islam 85), Mohammed Linkon, Waly Faisal (Rayhan Hasan 46), Jahid Hasan Ameli, Sohel Rana, Taklis Ahmed, Omar Faruk Babu (Mamunul Islam 81), Mobarak Hossain Bhuiya, Jamal Bhuiyan, Aiqur Rahaman Meshu

India: Subrata Pal; Nirmal Chettri, Gouramangi Singh, Arnab Mondal, Nallappan Mohanraj; Francis Fernandes (Robin Singh 84), Lenny Rodrigues (Arata Izumi 77), Mehtab Hossain, Jeje Lalpekhlua (Dawson Fernandes 65); Jewel Raja; Sunil Chhetri.

Watch the highlights and full match here – SAFF Championship 2013: India vs Bangladesh highlights and full match.