2018 SAFF SUZUKI CUP : INDIA vs SRI LANKA

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INDIA( Ashique 34' Chhangte 47') 2-0 SRI LANKA
And the young Indian team picks up the first victory in SAFF SUZUKI CUP 2018, courtesy one-a-piece strikes from the two wingers, Ashique Kuruniyan and Lallianzuala Chhangte. The scoreline could've been much worse for the islander ,but for the heroics of their goalkeeper Sujan Perera, who saved more than 5 blazing on-target attempts. The Indian midfield seemed largely mobilised and the two wingers provided nice momentum from a strong backline, captained by Subhasish Bose. Farukh impressed the most amongst the forward but his failure to capitalise on the chance might not get him a peaceful sleep in the night.

Sri Lanka looked lifeless going forward and created too many problems for themselves in defense, which allowed Stephen Constantine's men to enact full control and play some stunning football. But Constantine would love to work on the display of Indian forwards in the final third as failure to convert such chances might hurt them in future.This is Spandan Paul signing off for Sportskeeda. Thanks and Good Night, Ladies and Gentlemen!

90+3' Farukh again at the center of missed chance as a cross from the left flank wished Farukh had given a touch to it, from a handshaking distance off the goal.
IND 2-0 SRI
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90' Poojari flaunts his skills on the left-flank, as he does a step-over before going past his marker and barge into the penalty area, but the ball is sent out of danger before he can pass it.
3 minutes have been added on.
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88' Another chance for India as Chhangte crosses in from the right flanks, finds Farukh, whose powerful header was brilliantly saved by Sujan Perrerira, who can boast of saving 5 clear attempts on the goal!
Farukh will definitely remember this goalkeeper as he has been in the receiving end for most of the saves by Perreira.
IND 2-0 SRI
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86' Manvir Singh found a loose ball from 20 yards of D-box and launched an attack from the right.
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83' Rare attack by the Sri Lankans as they tried to glide through the right but a correct final cross went abegging as Indians regain possession after a couple of Lankans attack.
IND 2-0 SRI
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82' Another chnace! This time it's Manvir Singh who hits a powerful shot from inside the box which is parried away pretty well by Perera., the Lankan goalie who had a pretty busy day at the office.
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80' Valiant effort from Farukh Chowdhury, as he cuts in from the right after an indecisive corner and his shot from the inside of the foot missed the woodwork by a whisker!.
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79' Clumsy defense from the Lankan backline as they concede yet another corner and Chhangte walks down to take the corner.
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77' And that was the last action from Anirudh Thapa as he is replaced by another exciting prospect- Vinit Rai.
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74' Thapa cuts in from the left and passes it to Farukh whose first time shot was fumbled by the Lankan keeper but defenders made sure to put the ball out of danger.
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71' CHANCEEE!
Sajid Dhot steal the ball brilliantly and marched forward and the defender picks out a beautiful ball to Farukh Choudhury, who takes it well and his screamer rattled the crossbar but unfortunately went out instead of crossing the goal line.
IND 2-0 SRI
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69' Summet Passi makes way for Manvir Singh at the top of the box as Constantine springs his second change.
IND 2-0 SRI
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68' Brilliant through ball from the middle to release Chhangte through the left flank as the resultant cross by the winger was deflected by Lankan Defender for a corner.
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66' Thapa's corner isn't cleared that well by Sri Lanka and the rebound fell to Poojari, whose volley goes way much wider of the target.
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64' Nikhil Poojarymanages to steal the ball right outside the penalty area on the right and sends in a cross, before Sri Lanka clear the ball out of danger.
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60' AB Warakagoda becomes the second Lankan player to get the caution as his slide on Chhangte went horribly wrong to gift India a free kick.
IND 2-0 SRI
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59' Nikhil Poojari seems busy as soon as he came in as he switches the proceedings from right to left.
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58' Throw in for India as Lankans fail to keep possession after the corner.
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57' Corner for Sri Lanka!
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56' Nikhil Poojary comes on as the first substitute for the Blue Tigers. He replaces Ashique from the right flank.
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54' Sri Lanka finally churns up an attack through the right-flank, as Kavindu Ishan lays off a nice through for Rahuman, whose low shot is collected well by Kaith, who has remained a spectator in most of the proceedings tonight.
IND 2-0 SRI
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52' Md. Ashique gets the first booking of the match as his rash tackle on Fernando Kumara didn't go unnoticed by the referee.
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48' It was wonder of a goal from Chhangte who might have not attempted the resultant goal ironically. He barges through the left wing; went past Ratyanake and a clever cross crept into goal at the far post ,past the clueless Perera.
Indians now dominating the game!
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47' GOOOOAAALLL!
Chhangte finally gets his reward!
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It's been all team India in the first half so far and the Blue Tigers have managed to keep a lions share of possession in this half. While Sri Lanka did well to frustrate the youngsters of India in the final third and even threatened with a rare counters, but a lapse in concentration aided Md. Ashique Kuruniyan to put India ahead in a clinical finish in the 34th minute. Indians will rue the missed chances as Chhangte and Germanpreet along with Sajid Dhot tested the Lankans's goalie quite a few times and should've gone up by more goals.

45+2' Sri Lanka tried their best to launch a scathing attack at the fag end of this half but the referee blows his whistle to bring the culmination to the first half.
IND 1-0 SRI
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45' 2 minutes have been added on as Indians seems relentless on their attacking front.
IND 1-0 SRI
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39' Chhangte misses again!!! Farukh chases a long ball and swivels it for Chhangte who blasts it over the crossbar.
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38' Indians have sensed the blood now. Skipper Subhasish Bose floats in a long ball for Dhot but the Lankan goalie throws himself to parry it away.
IND 1-0 SRI
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34' GOOAAALL!
Ashique Kuruniyan nets the first goal of the tournament for India, with an impeccable run from the right flank, cutting in through a couple of Lankan defenders and slotted it home.
It's copybook winger goal.
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30' Sarthak Golui failed to keep the possesion and captain Subhasish Bose quickly averted the danger by heading out a rare Sri Lankan cross inside the Indian box as it's time for a quick water-break.
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27' Chhangte again on a breezy run through the right t as he takes on and gets past a few Sri Lankan defenders but overruns the ball which goes out of play in the end. Both the flanks are now troubling the Lankan backline.
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26' Chhangte strides in with a ball and gets a corner as his cross is deflected out of the play by a Lankan defender.
IND 0-0 SRI
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24' Ashikur Rahuman taps Anirudh Thapa from behind but escapes a possible yellow card although the referee is spot on to award India the free kick.
IND 0-0 SRI
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20' Ashique has been heavily marked from the left flank of Indian attack to cut down the source of counter-attacks. The game is well poised now.
IND 0-0 SRI
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18' First chance for the Lankans but an ambitious attempt by Md. Rifaz was well off the target as the Lankans are trying hard to put up a resilient front.
IND 0-0 SRI
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16' The Indians get another free-kick after a naive handball from Mohamed Rifaz, but Chhangte's dipping shot was collected well by Perera.
IND 0-0 SRI
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13' What a CHANCE!! Chhangte now!!!
A nice cross from Subhashish Bose from the left-flank finds a Lalrinzuala Chhangte at the far post within a handshaking distance from the goalline, but his shot was a poor one and went way off target.
IND 0-0 SRI
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11' Freekick for India. AnirudhThapa chose to take a direct attempt but easy for the Lankan goalie to gather it.

IND 0-0 SRI
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4' CHANCE! Nice chance created by Farukh as he passed to Ashique who tried to find Sumeet Passi who was left unmarked but missed the final touch. Chance goes begging.

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2' First attack from the Indians.
Ashique tries to latch an attack from the left but the defender nullifies it.

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And its Kick-off at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

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National Anthem time at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Cheer out loud for the warriors out there.#BackTheBlue #AsianDream #WeAreIndia #INDvSRI pic.twitter.com/jN16ITecCd
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 5, 2018

Subhasish Bose is all set to march in as the new commander-in-chief for the Blue Tigers!
https://twitter.com/IndianFootball/status/1037323006106730496

Starting XI#AsianDream #BackTheBlue #WeAreIndia pic.twitter.com/eFZ1ZLbtMo
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 5, 2018

Boys are lined up. Kick-off is less than 10 minutes away. #BackTheBlue #AsianDream #WeAreIndia #INDvSRI pic.twitter.com/4WUy0d0IWi
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 5, 2018

A young and jubilant Inidan side, fresh off their exploits in Australia is set to begin their title defence against close neighbour Sri Lanka in the first match of group B, of the SAFF Suzuki Cup. Both the sides will be eyeing a flying start courtesy a victory in their first game at Bangabandhu National Stadium.

The fresh Indan side captained by Subhasish Bose, has only one player over the age of 23 in the 20 man squad in form of Sumeet Passi and can boast of an effective camp in Australia where they faced premier A-League clubs.

However Sri Lanka won’t be an easy nut to crack as their new coach Nizam Ali reaffirmed their plan of Sri Lanka Football Vision 2030 and would definitely spring up few fresh faces on the pitch.

With several ISL-famed Indian youngsters in the rooster and some raw talents from the Lankans combined;this group B opening game of SAFF Suzuki Cup promises to be a a cracker of a show!

SAFF Championship 2018: India vs Sri Lanka, Live Score, Updates, and Commentary