India defeated Nepal 4-1 in an entertaining game at the Trivandrum Stadium that saw the hosts come out the better of the two sides owing to some terrific individual performances.
Bimal Magar scored the opening goal of the game but India clawed back into the game thanks to goals from Rowlin Borges, Sunil Chhetri and a brace from the exciting teenager Lallianzuala Chhangte.
Indian Coach Constantine sprung a few surprises in his starting XI as Arnab Mondal, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Robin Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Pronay Halder were dropped to the bench in favour of Aiborlang Khongjee,Bikash Jairu,Hali Charan Narzary , and Rowlin Borges and Subrata Paul.
Sunil Chhetri started up front for the hosts with Robin Singh failing to recover in time from the injury picked up from the game against Sri Lanka.
Patrick Aussems dropped skipper Anil Gurung, with Biraj Maharjan leading the side onto the pitch. Key players such as Bimal Magar and Rohit Chand kept their place in the starting XI.
The matched kicked off in scintillating fashion as Nepal took the lead in just the 3rd minute after Nawayug Shreshta’s shot rebounded off the post only for Bimal Magar to follow up with a tap in. The No.18 from Nepal had made a very good run to catch the whole of Indian backline sleeping.
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India did not have to wait for their opportunity as Sanju Pradhan split the Gorkhali defence to put Suni Chhetri through on goal minutes later, but an excellent diving tackle from Aditya Chaudhary inside the box meant Nepal kept their 1-0 lead
The hosts pushed on for the equalizer as Hali Charan Narzary tried a shot from distance in the 20th minute that failed to test the keeper.
A minute later a dangerous cross from the left by Bikash Jairu caused trouble inside the box as the goalkeeper punched it into the path of Sanju Pradhan whose shot was wide off the mark.
Sanju was at it again immediately as his pace left the full back on his heels before delivering a cross that neither Hali Charan nor Bikash Jairu could reach.
The hardwork paid off in the 26th minute and the hosts were able to make it 1-1 after a free kick into the box fell into the feet of Rowlin Borges who blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
The equalizing goal caused umpteen turnovers in midfield, with both sides unable to hold possession steadily. A cleverly taken set piece found Bikash Jairu unmarked inside the box on the stroke of half time but a well-timed tackle from Rohit Chand took the ball off the Indian’s midfielder’s feet.
Stephen Constantine reacted to the score line by replacing Sanju Pradhan with exciting teenager Lallianzuala Chhangte after the restart.Nepal kept pushing forward to take the lead and in the 49th minute, Nawayug Shreshta’s run into the box was picked up by a good ball from midfield but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
In the 57th minute, Heman Gurung forced Subrata Paul into a top save after substitute Jagajeet Shreshta’s lay off found the No.11 within shooting distance from goal.
With Nepal unable to get their lead even after the hour mark, Aussems decided to turn to Anil Gurung who he had initially decided to leave on the bench.
However before the influential leader could make a mark, India took the lead in the match. In the 67th minute, Hali Charan Narzary, found himself free with the ball on the left before crossing for Suni Chhetri who made no mistake in placing the ball into the back of the net.
Anil Gurung had a chance to equalize for Nepal in the 74th minute but Subrata Paul came up with a good low save to keep India ahead. Five minutes later, Gurung got into the box with the ball at his feet only for the ball to be taken off his feet by Aiborlang Khongjee.
The goal that hosts needed arrived in the 81st minute thanks to a sensational strike from Lallianzuala Chhangte. The teenager received the ball on the edge of the box, cut onto his left foot before unleashing a curler that found the top of the net to extend India’s lead to 3-1.
The exciting teenager was not done as Chhangte doubled his tally with a well-timed header in the 90th minute after he caught the Nepal defense sleeping.
The final whistle blew with India coming out as victors in the most open game of SAFF Suzuki Cup 2015. The hosts now go top of the table and into the semis along with Sri Lanka.
