SAFF Cup: India advance to the final beating Maldives 3-2

That was a fun match, but one that gives nightmares to coaches. Some atrocious defending. Great to see India attack with flair #INDvMDV
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) December 31, 2015

BREAKING: AiffMedia through to the final of #SAFFSuzukiCup after defeating MaldivesFA 3-2! #INDvMDV pic.twitter.com/Ym3YsNAO5C
— #SAFFSuzukiCup (@NepalFootballTM) December 31, 2015

India beat Maldives 3-2 in the semi-final of #SAFF Cup Their 10th entry into the final (have won 6!) #INDvMDV
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 31, 2015

Excellent game from strikers & Holicharan. Equally poor performance from Pritam Kotal & Arnab Mandal #INDvMDV
— Somnath Sengupta (@baggiholic) December 31, 2015

FT: India 3-2 Maldives. Good performance up front but should have finished better. Defence needs major improvement before final. #INDvMDV
— Röhith Nair (@RohithNair) December 31, 2015

Teams March out for the second half. #IndianFootball #BacktheBlue #SAFFSuzukiCup #INDvMDV pic.twitter.com/CSZLMMO3hV
— Indian Football Team (@AiffMedia) December 31, 2015

94' The offside flag goes up as the referee blows the full-time whistle. FT: India 3-2 Maldives (Chhetri, Jeje 2x; Ali, Ali)

92' The free-kick delivery goes far on the left corner as Sandhu watches the ball go out for a goal kick.

90' Free-kick in a dangerous position for India. Meanwhile, Pronoy Halder replaces Eugeneson Lyngdoh.

4 minutes of added time.

89' Lyngdoh with a free-kick chance but Imran collects the ball easily.

88' Sandhu collects the ball comfortably as a shot comes straight towards him.

87' Imran comes way out of his formal position to clear the ball as Maldives break on a counter. A Maldives player goes down inside the box, but the offside flag goes up.

86' Almost another goal for India but the Maldives defenders somehow manage to keep the scoreline 3-2.

SUB: Sanju Pradhan has come on to replace Narzary for India.

83' Jeje is inches away from scoring a stunning strike from just outside the box. Remind you, another goal would make him the first player in SAFF Cup history to score a hat-trick in Indian colours.

80' India almost with their fourth of the night as Jeje's header finds Zuala who was free in front of the goal, but the keeper comes to the rescue.

79' Augustine fails to head it in as Holicharan's inch-perfect cross finds him right in-front of the goal.

78' Jeje lays it forward for Jairu but he fails to find the right shot. Takes a deflection and goes out for yet another corner.

77' Almost an equaliser for Maldives but Sandhu comes to the rescue as he collects the ball.

74' Amdhan Ali scores his debut Maldives goal as he heads in the incoming cross from the corner.

73' 18-year old Lallianzuala replaces Sunil Chhetri.

Narzary has been killing it today, created another brilliant chance with a teasing cross but Chhetri unable to get on the end of it.

65' GOAL! 3-1 @AiffMedia as @jejefanai outfoxes the Maldivian defence to hit the back of the net #SAFFSuzukiCup pic.twitter.com/z2dhEvYunH
— SAFF Suzuki Cup (@SAFFSuzukiCup) December 31, 2015

64' GOOOAL! Jeje gets his second goal of the match with an assist from captain Chhetri. Jeje does well to keep the ball to himself with three defenders on him.

63' Sunil Chhetri is down injured! He seems to be really wounded, but he has rejected the stretcher. Gets up on his own feet.

62' A ball from Narayan Das is met by Jeje's diving header.

60' CLOSE! Jeje with a great shot but is denied by the woodwork.

59' The 11th corner for India underway. But, the delivery is intercepted and taken out of the danger area as Jeje fails to reach it.

55' Maldives almost score a second, but the shot is blocked. India break on a counter with Jeje on the ball, but he fails to keep it to himself.

54' Free-kick for India and what a free-kick it is from Narayan Das as the goalkeeper denies him a goal.

50' Narzary attempts a shot but the deflection from a Maldives' player takes a deflection. Corner for India.

48' Lyngdoh takes a shot from a long range but the ball goes wide away.

47' Borges cross is headed away but Chettri's shot is saved by the keeper.

The second half is underway.

Something to ponder about for #IND after conceding in the 46th min. An unnecessary goal to give away. #INDvsMDV #BackTheBlue
— NorthEast United FC (@NEUtdFC) December 31, 2015

Halicharan by far one of the better performers. Assisted both goals. Jeje's hold-up play and physicality good to see. #INDvMDV #SAFFCup
— Röhith Nair (@RohithNair) December 31, 2015

HT: India 2-1 Maldives (Chhetri, Jeje; Ahmed)

The players go back into the tunnel as play stops for the half-time break.

The best fans. #IndianFootball #BacktheBlue #SAFFSuzukiCup #INDvMDV pic.twitter.com/PFzfUgvQAA
— Indian Football Team (@AiffMedia) December 31, 2015

45 + 1' GOOALL! Nashid Ahmed gets one back for Maldives as he puts the ball past Gurpreet Singh Sandhi with a well-placed finish inside the box.

Two minutes of added time.

43' Shaifu blocks Jeje's shot with his head inside the box. That was a quick counter attack from Jeje with Imran the goalkeeper on his tails, far from his formal position.

41' Mohd. Imran clears the ball after a corner and is called for yet another save following a long-ranged attempt from Rowlin.

41' Sunil Chhetri tries to test the keeper but the shot takes a deflection.

Both @MaldivesFA and @AiffMedia fans are contributing to an electrifying atmosphere in the stadium! #SAFFSuzukiCup pic.twitter.com/cmuBAzehjR
— SAFF Suzuki Cup (@SAFFSuzukiCup) December 31, 2015

37' Ali takes the freekick for Maldives but the shot goes wide over the target.

35' Chettri with a powerful shot, but Imran comes to the rescue yet again.

32' GOOOAL! Jeje scores the second goal of the match with a calm, composed finish! Holicharan with the assist.

29' Brilliant double saves from Maldives' keeper Imran who keeps out Chhetri and Jeje from doubling India's lead from a close range. It was Kotal's cross that initiated the attack.