SAFF Championships 2023: Sunil Chhetri on target as India overpower Nepal 2-0 to book semi-final berth

Captain Sunil Chhetri was on the scoresheet once again as India toppled Nepal 2-0 in the SAFF Championships fixture on June 24 (Sunday) at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

SportsTak

• Sat • 24 Jun 2023

Captain Sunil Chhetri was on the scoresheet once again as India toppled Nepal 2-0 in the SAFF Championships fixture on June 24 (Sunday) at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. As a result, the Indian football team qualified for the semi-finals after securing their second consecutive victory in as many matches played in the tournament this year. Naorem Mahesh Singh also found the back of the net before the referee blew his whistle for the last time on the evening. India's talisman Chhetri broke the deadlock at the 61st-minute mark while Mahesh Singh doubled India's lead nine minutes later.

India had earlier beaten arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening match of the competition with Chhetri scoring a hat-trick for the hosts. Chhetri (91 goals from 139 matches) had already become the second most prolific scorer among Asians after Ali Daei (109 from 148 matches) of Iran and third among active players in the world. He is the most prolific goal-getter among active Asian players.

With six points from two wins, India qualified for the semifinals from Group A along with Kuwait (also six points), who beat Pakistan 4-0 earlier in the day for their second victory.

India will lock horns with Kuwait on June 27 to decide the group winner. Nepal and Pakistan are out of the reckoning for a semifinal spot as they lost two matches each.

India entered the match with large scale changes as only Chhetri, Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad retained their places in the starting 11 from the previous match against Pakistan.

Nepal ran India close the whole of first half with a fine display of solid defence and quick counterattacks.

India showed more urgency and purpose in the second half, and the result came their way in the 61st minute. Sahal and Mahesh engaged themselves in a lighting one-two to evade Nepalese defence before finding an unmarked Chhetri inside the box, and the forward just had to beat goalkeeper Kiran Limbu.

The second goal was a tribute to Sahal’s speed and skills. The midfielder made a bull run through the centre and his pass found Chhetri but his shot deflected off Limbu.

However, Mahesh Singh was right in place to head the ball into the net in the 70th minute as India gained a decisive 2-0 lead.

(With agency inputs)