India overcame a spirited Cambodia side 3-2 at Phnom Penh as goals from Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpekhlua and Sandesh Jhingan sealed the deal for Stephen Constantine’s men. The Blue Tigers were lucky to go into halftime all square even after being thoroughly outplayed in the first half as a howler from the Cambodian keeper helped Suni Chhetri open the scoring against the run of player.
The hosts were, however, back on level terms within seconds.
The second half saw India make changes which ultimately proved to be the key to the visitors, as the opening minutes of the second forty-five saw the opening of the floodgates. Jeje Lalpekhlua and then Sandesh Jhingan helped India build a two-goal cushion. Cambodia and especially Chan Vathanaka, however, weren’t going away tamely as they looked to find their way back into the game. However, his goal turned out to be just too little as India ran out winners on the night by a goal.
1 - This was India’s first win in an international friendly away from home in 12 years. This also comes in good time as they prepare to face Myanmar on the 28th of March in their opener of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier.
2 – Eugeneson chipped in with two assists on the night. However, the Bengaluru FC midfielder was again anonymous, especially in the first half which also saw him give away some needless free kicks. If India are to make their way past the group stages, they need more the former Lajong man.
3 – Sandesh Jhingan has been in great goalscoring touch for the national side. The Kerala Blasters defender popped up with the winner tonight, which was his third goal in 13 international matches – a record any forward will be proud of. His previous goals came in the 1-2 defeat against Turkmenistan (which was also incidentally India’s last loss) and in the 6-1 triumph over Laos. This means that Jhingan has scored three in his last six games for the Blue Tigers.
5 – This was India’s fifth win on the trot. The Blue Tigers are enjoying a purple patch and have won 10 of their last 12 games. However, this game should give Stephen Constantine and his men a real kick up the backside. The visitors were thoroughly outplayed in the first half and were lucky to have gone into the break on level terms.
9 – Jeje Lalpekhlua has been in imperious form for the national team and this was his ninth goal in as many games. The introduction of the forward not only helped bring calmness to the proceedings, it also helped Stephen Constantine bring Sunil Chhetri to the middle of the park. Something that should happen from the get go against Myanmar.
28 – Stephen Constantine has a penchant for giving debuts and in this game, two names were further added to the list who have made their bows under the watchful eyes of the Englishman. Anas Edathodika was given his long due place at the backline as he started the game at the heart of the defence alongside Arnab Mondal. Meanwhile, Milan Singh was given his debut late on in the game when the Delhi Dynamos man replaced Rowlin Borges.
52 – Death, taxes and Sunil Chhetri scoring in Indian colours seem to be the most inevitable of things in life these days. The Bengaluru FC man took his tally of international goals to 52 as he found himself at the end of a fortuitous moment as the ball slipped through the hands of the Cambodian keeper and come straight into his path. India struggled in the first half and mainly due to their inability to bring Chhetri into the game. This was similar to the opening in the game against Puerto Rico last time around. And the answer both the times was to get Chhetri involved at the centre of the pitch.
