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Preview: It has been a tough ride but Igor Stimac’s India will hope to leave Maldives with the SAFF Championship trophy as they prepare to take on Nepal in the final on Saturday. After struggling against the likes of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – both matches ending in draws – India qualified for the final after victories against Nepal and Maldives. It was a must-win game against Maldives and the team did well to take their chances and ensured they beat the hosts 3-1. As usual, Sunil Chhetri has been helping his side when it comes to scoring goals. He scored the crucial, and the only goal against Nepal and followed up by netting twice against Maldives. “They (Nepal) are the best as a team in this tournament. They might not have extraordinary individuals like Ali Ashfaq (of Maldives) but they have the best team,” Chhetri said during an interaction with reporters. “As far as defending as a team and attacking as a team is concerned, they are the best. Fortunately, we have played against them three times in the recent past and we have understood that they are a really good side and they are very compact. We are facing the best team in the final and it will not be easy,” he added. Here’s all you need to know about the final between India and Nepal: When in the SAFF Championship final between India and Nepal? The final between India and Nepal will take place on Saturday, 16 October 2021. . What is the venue for the India vs Nepal match? The match will take place at the National Football Stadium in Male, Maldives. What time will the India vs Nepal match start? The India vs Sri Lanka match will begin at 8.30 pm IST. Which TV channels will broadcast the India vs Nepal match? The match will be shown on Eurosport. Besides this, you can browse Firstpost.com for live updates.
India vs Nepal, SAFF Championship 2021 final highlights: India become champions after 3-0 victory
Catch the live score and updates from the SAFF Championship 2021 final between India and Nepal
 "India vs Nepal, SAFF Championship 2021 final highlights: India become champions after 3-0 victory")
‘Very special’
SAFF Championship as a player ✅
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021
SAFF Championship as a coach ✅
Just @chetrisunil11 showing his appreciation for former #BlueTigers 🐯 captain & current Assistant Coach Shanmugam Venkatesh 🙌#INDNEP ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2021 🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/wQcksh2d7L
India will be proud of their turnaround. After struggling against the likes of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – both matches ending in draws, India won the next two against Nepal and Maldives to qualify for the final. Up against an impressive Nepal side, India did well break their defence thrice in the second-half. Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring, Suresh Singh doubled the lead and then Sahal Abdul Samad netted the third. India were the deserving winners in the final and deserving winners of the trophy.
Head coach Igor Stimac was feeling the pressure after the draws but he’ll be a happy man tonight.
SAFF champions for the eighth time!
FULL-TIME ⌛️
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021
🏆🏆🏆🏆C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.S. 🏆🏆🏆🏆
🇮🇳 3-0 🇳🇵
✍️ https://t.co/Krscpgs4nu#INDNEP ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2021 🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/bcZwgDxGHn
That’s it!
India are the champions after beating Nepal 3-0.
IND 3-0 NEP
GOAL! Sahal Abdul Samad scores the third goal for India.
84’ IND 2-0 NEP
Nepal pushing to reduce the deficit. They don’t lose the ball for a good few minutes before Manish Dangi tries a long-ranger but it well wide.
78’ IND 2-0 NEP
Close. Nepal’s Rohit Chand is free to head the ball towards Gurpreet and it hits the top of the crossbar before going out of play. Gurpreet was beaten but luckily for India, it doesn’t find the back of the net.
76’ IND 2-0 NEP
Time for substitutions. Yasir and Apuia have been replaced by Glan Martins and Udanta Singh.
73’ IND 2-0 NEP
Mandar Rao Dessai gets into the box from the left and goes for the shot but he hits it wide. Manvir is not happy because he was waiting for the pass.
67’ IND 2-0 NEP
What a chance for Chhetri. The Indian skipper collects the ball in the centre of the pitch, manages to keep the defender at bay while running towards the goal. He does well to shoot but the Nepal goalkeeper comes in the way to deny him.
Captain, leader and legend
The desire to attack no matter what. The positional awareness. The finishing. Chhetri is impossible.
— Ujwal (@UjwalKS) October 16, 2021
58' Yasir plays in a cross to Chheri into some space, but Limbu comes out of his line and smothers the ball.
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021
🇮🇳 2-0 🇳🇵
✍️ https://t.co/Krscpgs4nu#INDNEP ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2021 🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽
54’ IND 2-0 NEP
Pritam Kotal sends in a cross from the right to Chhetri, who nods in the header from close range. Seconds later, Yasir cuts it back for Suresh, who comes up with a good finish.
What a start to the second-half.
IND 2-0 NEP
Another goal for India!
Suresh Singh doubles his team’s lead.
IND 1-0 NEP
GOAAAL! Who else but Sunil Chhetri!
IND 0-0 NEP
The second-half is underway in Male.
Okay first half. India need to score as early as possible in second otherwise pressure will increase with every minute. #SAFFChampionship2021
— Ujwal (@UjwalKS) October 16, 2021
IND 0-0 NEP
End of the first half. India have been the better side but they fail to score. On field conditions are not making it easy. Nepal stuck to their game plan and will be glad to go into the break having stopped India from scoring.
44’ IND 0-0 NEP
Superb cross from the right, Chhetri arrives in the box and tries an audacious volley first time but it’s over the goal post.
42’ IND 0-0 NEP
Indians showing positive intent, winning the balls in the midfield and not wasting time in going forward. But they are failing to create clear cut scoring opportunities.
36' Suresh chips it to Chhetri, who nods it down for Apuia, but the pass is again cut out.
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021
🇮🇳 0-0 🇳🇵
✍️ https://t.co/Krscpgs4nu#INDNEP ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2021 🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/v8TXhrVVEY
31’ IND 0-0 NEP
Beautiful play by the Indians in the midfield and Anirudh gets the ball on the left. He takes the shot instead of sending a cross to the centre and it’s above the goalkeeper for a goal kick to Nepal.
27’ IND 0-0 NEP
Chance for Chhetri but Kiran Kumar saves the shot. The Indian skipper beats his defender with a run to the box and he has space to shoot. His left-footer lacks power and the Nepal keeper dives to his left to collect the ball.
19' Manvir nods a goal-kick on to Chhetri, who tries to beat a defender, but is dispossessed.
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021
🇮🇳 0-0 🇳🇵
✍️ https://t.co/Krscpgs4nu#INDNEP ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2021 🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽
17’ IND 0-0 NEP
Dangerous ball from the right flank to the centre of the box. Bheke slips but the Nepal player couldn’t convert the chance.
12’ IND 0-0 NEP
It’s raining heavily in Male. Both teams have to adjust to the conditions. Indians enjoying the possession but Nepal’s defending has also been good.
8’ IND 0-0 NEP
Superb chance for Nepal to open the scoring, Gurpreet save is not a clear one and on the rebound, a Nepal attacker hits the post. The Indian goalkeeper is down and receiving the treatment after the clash with the Nepal player. Nothing serious as he is good to continue.
6’ IND 0-0 NEP
Double save by Nepal goalkeeper. Yasir tried a long-ranger but the Nepal keeper doesn’t take it cleanly. The ball comes to Anirudh who tries to poke it in from a close range only to be stopped by the goalkeeper. Positive start by the Indians.
3’ IND 0-0 NEP
A reminder that head coach Igor Stimac is not present on the sideline because he was shown a red card in the previous match against Maldives. So, assistant coach Shanmugam Venkatesh is taking charge of the team.
IND 0-0 NEP
It’s kick-off at the Maldives National Stadium. India playing in whites while Nepal are in red.
Two changes by India head coach Igor Stimac
Centre-back Chinglensana Singh replaces Subhashish Bose while in the midfield, Anirudh Thapa comes in for Brandon Fernandes.
Looks like it would be 4-2-3-1 formation.
Preview
The final will be the 12th for India in 13 editions which shows the domination of the Blue Tigers in this regional tournament. The third-place finish in 2003 was the worst performance for them.
**Click here to read the copy**Here’s the line-up of the Indian team
Here's how the #BlueTigers 🐯 will line up tonight 🙌#NEPIND ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2021 🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/7WiRIrxBW6
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021
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