India vs Nepal Match Report

India vs Nepal Match Report

India: Subrata; Kotal, Sandesh, Arnab, Saumik; Francis, Lyngdoh, Ralte, Lenny; Robin, Sunil.

Nepal: Kiran, Sagar Thapa, Sandip Rai, Rabin Shrestha, Biraj Maharjan, Bikram Lama, Rohit Chand, Jagajeet Shrestha, Bhola Silwal, Bimal, Bharat Khawas.

India start their World Cup qualifying campaign on a promising note as they win their first game against neighbours Nepal comfortably 2-0 thanks to a splendid brace from captain fantastic Sunil Chettri.

This was the first match under new coach Stephan Constantine and the signs were really good of the shape which the team will take under the new manager. He made few bold choices to hand debuts to young and in-form players like Jhinghan, Lyngdoh , Kotal and Saumik Dey.

The hosts began the game emphatically as they hogged on majority of possession and created more chances. It always looked like India will be the first team to break the deadlock. Robin Singh combined well with the Bangalore duo Chettri and Lyngdoh but failed to breach Nepal’s defense in the first half.

The deadlock was finally broken eight minutes into the second half. Sunil Chettri scored a thunderbolt from outside of the box to send India into lead. The finish was simply majestic and the power with which the shot was struck left Nepali keeper Kiran rooted the spot.

Twenty minutes later, Chettri did an encore of his first goal as he scored yet another screamer to give hosts a comfortable two goal advantage. Once again he drove from the midfield and struck a peach of a shot from just outside of the box but Nepali keeper despite flying towards ball couldn’t save it.

In the 80th minute India was awarded penalty but Chettri missed a golden chance to complete his hattrick as Chemzong saved the penalty by diving low on his right to give India a three goal advantage into second leg.

India will travel to Nepal for the second leg next month with a healthy two goal cushion.