Robin Singh netted a brace as India opened their South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Suzuki Cup campaign with a dominant 2-0 win over Sri Lanka at the Trivandrum International Stadium in Trivandrum, Kerala on Friday. The win puts India in pole position to qualify for the semi-finals, with India only needing a draw in their final game against Nepal to qualify as group winners.
Stephan Constantine was forced into few changes as Augustine Fernandes came in for the injured SandeshJhingan at the heart of the Indian defence while Pranoy Halder replaced Rowlin Borges. Winger Sanju Pradhan came into the starting eleven which saw Eugenson Lyngdoh occupy a deeper role in midfield.
Sri Lanka too made a few changes from their game against Nepal as skipper R.A.A. Nakala, KavinduIshan and Sri Lanka’s match winner from their first game, M. Rifnas all started the game on the bench.
First Half
India made a bright start to proceedings as they seized control of the ball straight away and forced a save from the Sri Lankan goalkeeper Sujan Perera who saved a header from Sunil Chhetri at his near post after the Indian skipper rose the highest to guide an Arnab Mondal cross goalwards in the 6th minute.
The tone of the game was set in the first ten minutes as Sri Lanka allowed India to have the ball while absorbing all the pressure they were put under. However, the Lankans’ tactics were nearly undone in the 11th minute when a lapse in concentration by the Sri Lankan defender saw Jeje go clear of the Lankan defence after a brilliant through ball from Eugenson Lyngdoh, but the Sri Lankan goalkeeper Sujan Perera was alert to the danger and made himself big to save from the in-form Jeje.
However, India’s early vigour eventually faded past the 20-minute mark as Sri Lanka got into a solid defensive shape, which gave the Indian forwards very little gap to exploit as the Lankans nullified Robin Singh’s threat upfront by marking him tightly.
India almost managed to breach the stern Sri Lankan rearguard in the 33rd minute when Pranoy Halder very nearly picked out Jeje Lalpekhlua at the far post, but a crucial intervention by the Sri Lankan centre back saved the day for the men in maroon.
Three minutes later, the Lankan custodian Sujan Perera was called into action once again when Sunil Chhetri created space for a shot on the Lankan goal after cutting in from the left flank, but Perera managed to parry it away for a corner.
Sri Lanka staved off any further Indian attacks in the first half to go into the break with their clean sheet intact as they frustrated the Indians who had little answers to Sri Lanka’s rearguard action.
Second Half
Stephan Constantine brought on Rowlin Borges in place of Pranoy Halder at the start of the second half as India pushed on for the breakthrough which had evaded them in the first half. But in the 51st minute, India eventually got that vital goal which came from the boots of Robin Singh who slammed home a cut-back from Sunil Chhetri whose relentless efforts to hold onto the ball resulted in the opening on the left side which India profited from.
The goal lifted the pressure on the Indians who started to play with a bit of a swagger post the breakthrough and the Sri Lankan goalkeeper, Sujan Perera once again earned his bread as he punched a series of crosses which were whipped in by the Indians immediately post the hour mark as the Lankans began to tire.
A sloppy piece of defending from Sri Lanka allowed Sanju Pradhan to fire in a cross from the right flank which was headed on goal from point blank range, but Sujan Perera once again stood tall to tip the bullet header over the crossbar.
However, Perera couldn’t do anything about Robin Singh’s cheeky finish in the 73rd minute which was helped into the Sri Lankan goal by their own defender who attempted a last-ditch clearance, but in vain as India doubled their lead.
Robin Singh got injured while scoring the goal and was replaced by young Lallianzuala who made his national team debut. India pushed on for a third goal which would have put them firmly on course to qualify for the semi-finals, but failed to breach the brilliant Sujan Perera for the third time and settled for a 2-0 win which lifted them to the top of Group A of the SAFF Suzuki Cup 2015
