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The timing of India’s international friendly against Tajikistan on Wednesday couldn’t have been better as it will come one day after the fifth anniversary of their famous AFC Challenge Cup triumph.
On this date, August 13, five years ago, India thrashed Tajikistan 4-1 in the final to lift the AFC Challenge Cup trophy and qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup.
Although the whole squad showed great team spirit and character throughout the tournament, the final belonged to one man – Sunil Chhetri. The current India captain confirmed his status as the new superstar of Indian football with a sumptuous hattrick as India booked their place among Asia’s elite.
Following the appointment of Bob Houghton, who took Swedish club Malmo to the European Cup final in 1979 and had considerable experience in Asia with stints as China and Uzbekistan coach, Indian football was having a revival and that started with the Nehru Cup triumph in 2007.
Indian football saw a revival under Bob Houghton
Despite the home advantage though, India were by no means the favourites for the Challenge Cup as the tournament had North Korea, who were well on their way to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. India’s start in the tournament also wasn’t great as they needed a stoppage time winner to beat lower-ranked Afghanistan in the opener and an own goal to draw 1-1 with holders Tajikistan in the second game.
They were in a must-win situation against Turkmenistan in the final group match and eventually got a 2-1 victory, thanks to a brace from skipper Bhaichung Bhutia to set up a semi-final showdown with Myanmar.
All the matches were being played in Hyderabad with the majority of games at the Gachibowli Stadium. Due to incessant rains, the ground conditions were deteriorating with every game of the tournament and it was possibly at its worst condition for the semi-finals, both of which took place on the same day.
In the first semi-final, the technically superior Myanmar outfit struggled to impose their game on the muddy pitch. India adapted better and triumphed thanks to a late winner from Sunil Chhetri, who showed incredible bravery to score with a header despite having a head injury.
Bob Houghton’s boys were one win away from the Asian Cup and a couple of events after their semi-final win made them favourites for the summit clash. First, favourites North Korea were beaten by Tajikistan in the other-semi final. Much like Myanmar, North Korea were unable to adapt to the difficult conditions and Tajikistan profited by recording an ugly 1-0 victory.
The second turning point for India was the decision to move the final to New Delhi’s Ambedkar Stadium as the conditions both at the Gachibowli Stadium and the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad were deemed unplayable by the AFC.
Although India had reached the final without losing a game, they never had the backing of a big crowd at Hyderabad. Thus the whole squad was boosted by the prospect of playing the final at their fortress, the Ambedkar Stadium, which had a full house during the 2007 Nehru Cup final where India defeated Syria 1-0.
Due to the change in venue, the final also was postponed from a Sunday to a Wednesday. So much like the Nehru Cup final, the AFC Challenge Cup final too was on a weekday, but the national capital’s passion for the national football team was evident again as people turned out in numbers to be India’s 12th man.
Hattrick Hero
Amidst a drizzle, India got off to the perfect start in the final as local lad Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring in the 9th minute. Sunil had pounced on the rebound after Tajikistan goalkeeper Alisher Tuychiev had saved NP Pradeep’s header from a Steven Dias cross.
Much like Geoff Hurst’s controversial goal against West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final, there was confusion regarding this strike as well, with the referee consulting his linesman, but there were no doubts about this goal and it rightly stood much to the delight of the Ambedkar crowd.
Tajikistan, technically a much superior side, tried to respond to India’s fast start but were two down in the 18th minute when Bhaichung Bhutia’s first-time left footed shot from a Samir Naik cross gave Tuychiev no chance.
Once again the Sikkimese Sniper had stepped up in a big game and even before Tajikistan could recover from the shock of a two-goal deficit, Sunil scored the third with a scorching left-footed effort from 25 yards. (see all India goals below)
This game was perhaps India’s biggest since the 1970 Asian Games bronze medal play-off against Japan but instead of feeling the pressure, Bob Houghton’s side performed at their maximum with 24-year-old Delhite Sunil being the star of the show.
Despite the three-goal cushion, India were getting opened up by Tajikistan and needed goalkeeper Subrata Pal to be at his best. The Central Asians pulled one back just before the halftime break through teenager Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev who scored with a powerful long-range effort.
The interval had come at the right time for Bob Houghton’s side because at 3-1; it was suddenly game on with the next goal being vital. Houghton’s words in the dressing room made the difference as India kept their shape much better in the second period, and then in 75th minute the Arjuna Awardee completed his hattrick to end the contest.
A counter attack saw Sunil play in a cross for Bhaichung, who couldn’t connect to it properly but Sunil, like any good striker, was first to the loose ball and found the back of the net with a clinical finish.
Tajikistan suffered a thrashing
India had thumped the defending champions with Sunil Chhetri becoming the first Indian player to score a hattrick in a major international tournament final. More importantly, it booked India’s place in Qatar 2011, which would be their first appearance in the Asian Cup in 27 years.
The hattrick confirmed that Sunil Chhetri is ready to take over Bhaichung Bhutia as India’s talisman in the next few years, but Bhaichung also wasn’t overshadowed as he was adjudged the most valuable player of the tournament.
The triumph enhanced Houghton’s reputation, but more importantly, it gave many Indian football lovers including this writer new hope of being positive about Indian football as finally we were guaranteed a chance to see our own Indian heroes in action on the biggest stage of Asia.
