Bhutan 0-5 India: Clifford Miranda And Sunil Chhetri Star As Bhutan Make An Early Exit

Savio Medeira’s side thrashed minnows Bhutan in what was a one-sided encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi in a group A encounter.

India are now on top of group A standings and need only a draw in their final match against Sri Lanka to ensure a place in the semi-finals. Bhutan, with no point in their kitty after two rounds of matches, are now out of contention for final four berth.

Savio Medeira made two changes to their line-up from the previous game as Anthony Pereira and Nirmal Chettri were introduced in place of Steven Dias and the injured Samir Naik.

It was the Men in Blue who had the first opportunity as a long ball inside the box couldn’t be trapped by Chhetri.

Five minutes later from a Clifford Miranda cornerkick, Nabi rose the highest at the far post and hit towards Chhetri whose header went over the bar.

Jeje had an opportunity to score after collecting a Gawli cross and thereafter he shot wide from inside the box.

In the 16^th minute, an Anthony Pereira free-kick saw Chhetri head it across for Nabi to score which was ruled offside. Thereafter there was another case of off-side when Clifford’s shot on rebound was slotted in by Nabi. Climax Lawrence’s shot was blocked and Chhetri picked up the pieces to shoot which hit Nabi on the shoulder on its way in. The linesman rightly raised his flag again which began to frustrate the Indians.

It was complete domination from the word go as the Indians looked to turn on style and send a strong statement to the other teams in the competition.

It was around the half hour mark that India managed to get the scorecard tick as Syed Rahim Nabi headed in from a Clifford Miranda corner.

India doubled their lead just before the break as Clifford added his name on the scoresheet. The move was initiated by Chhetri, who came from the right, and put in a grounder in the box. There was a mix-up at the far post as Jeje and Clifford went for the ball but the latter eventually slotted the ball home.

Sunil Chhetri passed the ball to Clifford who unleashed a fierce right footer which zoomed past goalkeeper Mon Bdr Bhattrai to make it 3-0.

Clifford Miranda’s cross from the left saw Chhetri side foot it in to score the fourth goal of the evening.

India had an opportunity to add to the score when a cross from the left saw Jewel Raja head wide in the 78^th minute.

Bhutan failed to put together a single attack as the Indians never really allowed them to settle in the match.

Chhetri, playing in his hometown, scored another as he dribbled past three Bhutan shirts and placed the ball to the left of a diving Mon Bdr Bhattrai.