India stormed into the Final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Suzuki Cup 2015 with a cracking 3-2 win over Maldives in the semi-final encounter at the Trivandrum International Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
India were rampant from minute one, as a goal from Sunil Chhetri and a brace from Jeje Lalpekhlua were enough for the Indians to see off Maldives who were given encouragement by some sloppy Indian defending.
Stephan Constantine restored goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Arnab Mondal and Jeje Lalpekhlua in the starting eleven as Holicharan Narzary dropped to the right flank. Bikash Jairu retained his position on the left while Sunil Chhetri played just behind Jeje, and ahead of Eugenson Lyngdoh and Rowlin Borges in midfield.
First Half :
India made a strong start to the game as they got hold of the ball straightaway. But it was Maldives who created the first real opening in the 7th minute when some neat play saw their striker fire a shot on goal which just went wide.
In the 12th minute, India thought they had taken the lead when Arnab Mandal's shot found its way into the back of the net, but the linesman ruled it out for offside as Jeje interfered the play as the ball went past the Maldivian custodian. India were playing with a great tempo while making full use of their flanks to stretch the Maldives defence.
Sunil Chhetri and Bikash Jairu played a neat one-two just inside the box to result in Jairu having acres of space, but the East Bengal winger fired his shot over in the 20th minute as the breakthrough evaded a dominant Indian side.
But four minutes later, India eventually found a way past the Maldives defence as Sunil Chhetri headed in a pin point cross from Holicharan Narzary on the right flank, into the goal, as India went ahead.
The goal boosted the Indians who stepped up their attacks only to be denied a second goal by the heroics of Maldives goalkeeper Imran who pulled off a fine save to keep out Narayan Das' long range drive in the 27th minute, before thwarting Sunil Chhetri from close range as India's top goal scorer looked destined to score. Imran however needed helping out as his defenders put in two goal saving blocks after Imran had saved from Chhetri on the half hour mark.
Maldives soon cracked for the second time in the afternoon under growing Indian pressure when a perfectly weighted pass from Holicharan Narzary picked out Jeje who showed great composure to make it 2-0 in India's favour in the 33rd minute. India’s wing play was proving hazardous for Maldives as India's wide players Bikash Jairu and especially Holicharan Narzary sparkled in the first half.
However, deep into first half stoppage time, Maldives scored through Nashid Ahmed very much against the run of play after the Indian defence gave Maldives’ Ishfaq Ali too much time in the box. Maldives' late goal changed the complexion of the game at half time as Maldives were offered a route back into the contest despite being comprehensively second best for most of the first half.
Second Half :
India however didn’t seem too moved by the Maldives goal and began the second half in the same fashion as the first, attacking the Maldives goal. Holicharan Narzary was once again at the heart of the moves which India created as he set up Jeje Lalpekhlua in the 61st minute, but the Chennaiyin FC forward blasted his shot over the target.
Jeje made up for his miss four minutes later when he latched onto a through pass to bundle his shot over the line and restore India's two goal lead at 3-1.
Constantine brought on young Lallianzuala in place of skipper Sunil Chhetri in the 74th minute with a view to giving Chhetri some rest ahead of the final while also giving India's new sensation Lallianzuala another run out.
Just a minute after Lallianzuala’s arrival, India failed to defend a regulation corner allowing defender Amdhan Ali to head home Maldives’ second goal and put the game back in balance at 3-2.
India had the chances to add to their tally but Jeje saw his curling effort go just wide of the target in the 84th minute, before Maldives scrambled clear a dangerous situation two minutes later. Constantine then decided to protect what he had and send Pranoy Halder in place of Eugenson Lyngdoh in the dying minutes which India saw off to book a place in their tenth SAFF Cup Final.
India will play winners of the second semi-final between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in the SAFF Suzuki Cup 2015 Final.
