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Match preview: Thiruvananthapuram: India football coach Stephen Constantine believes the SAFF Championship game against Nepal here on Sunday will be a tricky one. Nepal lost their opener against Sri Lanka 0-1 while India, in their first game, beat Sri Lanka 2-0. [caption id=“attachment_2425980” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
File picture of India football players. Getty[/caption] “Nepal were unlucky to lose their first match. They are a good side and tomorrow will be a tricky match. We are an improving team and hopefully we will get the result we desire,” Constantine said on Saturday. The coach confirmed that striker Robin Singh’s leg injury wasn’t a serious one and that he would feature in the game. “Robin’s X-ray reveals it isn’t anything serious. He will be back.” Post-breakfast on Saturday, the players hit the beach for recovery sessions. “When you do recovery sessions in water, it’s quite beneficial for the players. They don’t feel the pressure, the banging on the joints as the water takes away all the pressure,” the English tactician said. “It also gets them out of the hotel apart from their daily schedule which at times can be boring. When you train with scenery behind you it’s quite a bit of fun. So it’s as much mental as physical.” Defender Arnab Mondal said that the squad is fearless and the players are up to the challenges ahead. “Life is synonymous with challenges. Waters will be deep but we are there to ride and swim out of the deep. We are Constantine’s squad. We are fearless,” Mondal said. Nepal played some brilliant football in their last game but failed to score. The contest therefore promises to be full of pace and thrill. IANS
SAFF Cup, India vs Nepal as it happened: Chhangte creates history as India win 4-1 to advance to SF
Live updates from India’s match against Nepal in the SAFF Championships
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With that, it’s time to sign off. A great night for India, and feels like a watershed moment in the career of young Lallianzuala Chhangte. Remember the name, folks. Join us again for the semifinals as India will take take on Maldives or Afghanistan.
Adios till then!
Oh wow, I did not see that coming.
Amen to that. There were two 17-year-olds in the Nepal starting lineup and the goalscorer Bimal Nagar was one of them.
Absolutely can’t get over that screamer from Zuala. Stunning. Simply stunning. Nepal have been well and truly beaten here by the hosts.
After 88 mins India 3-1 Nepal
Absolutely can’t get over that screamer from Zuala. Stunning. Simply stunning. Nepal have been well and truly beaten here by the hosts.
After 88 mins India 3-1 Nepal
And India almost make it 3-1. Could have been a huge moment for the young Zuala! Dribbles free in the box and gets a shot away which beats the goalkeeper but a sliding goal-line clearance. Weak shot in the end.
Meanwhile, Sunil Chhetri is off for Jeje Lalpekhlua.
Some very good build up play by India there. Sunil Chhetri at the heart of it, building from the deep with Zuala and Lyngdoh, who plays a clever through ball to Jairu down the left channel but he cannot get the cross away. (Crossing, it must be said, has been quite awful) Nepal have made their final substitution. Yet another Gurung on the pitch now. Three by my count.
After 66 mins India 1-1 Nepal
Great shot, good save! Nepal almost ahead after a bit of a lull in the game now. A rasping drive from outside the box by Heman Gurung, but Paul saves well, diving full length. Came at a good height.
Nepal make their second substitution, need a sparkle from somewhere. After 60 mins, India 1-1 Nepal
Best crowd of the tournament so far…
End to end stuff in Trivandrum now, but not many clear cut chances for either side. Nepal defending with a high line but a through ball from Lyngdoh finds Narzary just offside. Indian defence looks more settled now. Unlike the first match, there is very little action on India’s right flank as right back Khongjee is struggling to get into the offence.
After 40 mins India 1-1 Nepal