September 12, 2013
KATHMANDU: After missing the semifinal, Sunil Chhetri admitted, "It's tough to watch the match from the stands." Watching from the bench must have been even tougher.
Afghanistan players celebrate after winning the SAFF Championship 2013 by defeating India in the final.
September 12, 2013
KATHMANDU: After missing the semifinal, Sunil Chhetri admitted, "It's tough to watch the match from the stands." Watching from the bench must have been even tougher.
Afghanistan players celebrate after winning the SAFF Championship 2013 by defeating India in the final.
The India captain watched helplessly from the technical bench after being left out of the starting XI and coach Wim Koevermans's decision to continue with a winning combination did not really work.
Afghanistan lived up to their top billing with a 2-0 victory over India in the final of the SAFF Championship, managed by World Sports Group, at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
Afghanistan's fleet-footed attackers Mustafa Azadzoy and Sanjar Ahmadi — who will play for Mumbai FC — poured forward to slice open the defence and avenge their defeat in the final of the last edition in Delhi.
India's ambition, and indeed capability, has been questioned all through the tournament and, just like Nepal in the group stage, Afghanistan showed that India are fallible.
Afghanistan surged ahead in the eighth minute when India were far from settled. Receiving the ball on the halfway line, Mustafa Hadid, switched it adroitly on the right for Ahmadi, who picked up Balal Arezou.
The former Churchill Brothers striker dodged both the stopper-backs before laying the ball within handshaking distance of the goal from where Mustafa Azadzoy lashed a shot to the near post for the opener.
The closest India got to finding the equalizer in the opening 45 minutes was when Mehtab Hossain's wonderful long-ranger forced an equally spectacular save from the goalkeeper and ball fell at the feet of Jeje.
The Dempo striker kept his cool to send a delicate chip, and the ball was drifting comfortably into the net until Haroon Amiri, the Afghanistan captain, tapped it out from close.
Koevermans finally introduced Chhetri — whose name was being chanted by the crowd — at the hour-mark and the striker immediately imposed himself. His left-footer hit the crossbar, while another attempt missed by a whisker.
Robin Singh wasted a chance after being left all alone with the goalkeeper. There was a method to Afghanistan's focus on the counter-attack that India could not match.
India's impatient desire to push forward, as the minutes ticked by, left the defence vulnerable. And, sure enough, Afghanistan had the last laugh when Ahmadi's lob made it 2-0.
There were still 28 minutes on the clock and India had three strikers on the field. But for Afghanistan, it did not really matter. The region now has a new champion and for a tournament struggling for attention, there is fresh optimism.
Courtesy: TNN
