captain Sunil Chhetri At the same time, continuing his excellent form, he scored his fourth goal of the tournament. Mahesh Singh Secured the victory by scoring the crucial goal. India had earlier defeated Pakistan 4-0 in their opening match with Chhetri scoring a hat-trick.
As it happened: India vs Nepal
Chhetri (91 goals in 139 matches), who already holds the distinction of being the second highest Asian scorer and the most active goal-scorer in Asia, once again showed his prowess on the field. His goal in the 61st minute gave India the lead they needed as he found the back of the net with precision. This goal further cemented his influence on the tournament.
With six points from two wins, India qualified for the semi-finals from Group A alongside Kuwait, who earned six points after thrashing Pakistan 4-0 earlier in the day. The final group match between India and Kuwait on 27 June will decide the group winner.
In the match against Nepal, India faced tough competition as their opponents displayed strong defense and quick counter-attacks. Despite the challenge, India showed urgency and purpose in the second half. He had to patiently fend off spirited fighting from Nepal before finally breaking the impasse.
The first half was closely fought with both the teams creating chances. In the 21st minute, Sahal Abdul Samad came close to scoring for India, but missed his header. Nepal also had chances, Bimal Ghatri’s shot was cleared off the goal line Rohit Kumar In the 34th minute.
India’s breakthrough came in the 61st minute when Sahal and Mahesh combined effectively to shatter the Nepalese defence. Chhetri found himself unmarked inside the box and confidently beat goalkeeper Kiran Limbu to give India the crucial lead.
This goal infused new energy into the Indian players and they continued to search for the second goal. Sahal, in particular, organized the midfield brilliantly, working closely with Mahesh Singh. It was Sahal’s quick run through the center that set Chhetri up for a shot, which deflected off Limbu, but in the 70th minute Mahesh Singh was perfectly positioned to put the ball into the net, giving India the lead. The lead became 2-0.
Nepal fought valiantly in an attempt to make a comeback, but India’s defense held strong, ensuring that they held their two-goal lead till the final whistle.
With this well-deserved win, India’s journey in the SAFF Championship continues, while Nepal and Pakistan are now out of contention for a semi-final spot with two losses each.
India’s next crucial encounter against Kuwait will decide the group winner and shape the course of the tournament going forward.
(With inputs from PTI)