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2009 SAFF Cup: Defending Champions Beat India To Break Nepalese Hearts
Defending champions Maldives put in an efficient and commanding performance to beat India 2-0 and send Nepal out of the tournament.
09-Dec-2009 8:00:25 PM
The two finalists from last year’s edition played the last group game of the SAFF Cup 2009. India had already qualified for the Semi Finals but Maldives came into the game knowing that a defeat would knock them out of the tournament as Nepal had registered a 3-0 win against Afghanistan to go even on points with Maldives but would go through on goal difference. Jeje got his first start of the tournament after two good outings.
The first half started with Maldives keeping a lot of possession. However it was as it had been in the first two games and neither side managed to make more than passes at a go. Baldeep Singh tried a few long distance shots but none really bothering the Maldives’ keeper. India were finding it difficult to break from mid field and Maldives looked more like to score. And score they did. On 15 minutes, Ali Ishfaq cut through both Ravanan and Ravinder Singh and as both defenders tried to come back to make a tackle he cut the ball back to Ahmed Thoriq who made no mistake from 10 yards. Maldives lead 1-0 and deservedly so. Ali Ishfaq was the main tormentor as India felt out of their depth.
Finally on 20 minutes India managed to build an attack but a poor cross from Jibon Singh went out for a goal kick. Maldives were all over India now and winning a few corners and free kicks. The Indian defense were riding their luck a bit as for all their possession and attacking waves, Maldives were not being able to get a shot on target. Soon India managed two consecutive corners and Ravinder Singh deliverd two beautiful crosses but India couldn’t convert. Balwant Singh got himself booked for ball handling as he tried to get at the end of one of the corners.
As the first half came to an end, Ali Ishafaq got into the referee’s book for contempt and will thus miss the Semi Final. It was totally unnecessary. The first half ended with Maldives leading 1-0 and India lucky to be behind just by a solitary goal.
India came out of the blocks stronger this time around and Blawant Singh wasted a great opportunity as he got through on goal and with only the keeper to beat he put his shot wide. India clearly got a ‘hairdryer’ treatment at half time as it was all India at the beginning of the second half. Raja got two consecutive shots on goal as the Indian attack started to find spaces around the Maldives’ defense. But both shots were off target. And just when India looked likely to score, Ali Ishfaq latched onto a long ball, before racing down on goal and with only the keeper to beat from 10 yards, he missed the target.
On the hour mark, things got worse for India as Blawant Singh was given his marching orders. He got a second yellow card for diving but the replays suggested it was a poor decision by the referee as Balwant was clearly caught. He will now miss the Semi Final against Bangladesh. Sukhwinder made no change immediately as India went a man down. Jeje was doing a good job of holding the ball up but has no support to take the move further.
On 78 minute Ali Ishafaq danced through the Indian defense and into the penalty box but was brought down by Denzel, it was a sure shot penalty but the refereee thought otherwise and India survived. Just as it started to look like this game was going to have no more incidents, Fazeel Ibrahim, who has had a great tournament, doubled Maldives’ lead. As a corner was sent in Kuttimani came out to collect it but completely made a meal of it. Ashfaq collected the loose ball and sent in a cross which was thumped in by Ibrahim. Game was over for India.
The last ten minutes of the game proved to be of no consequence and no happening whatsoever. India let Maldives pass the ball around and at the final whistle, it ended India 0-2 Maldives.
Goalscores: A. Thoriq (Maldives) 15’, Fazeel Ibrahim (Maldives) 83’
Venkatesha Sharma
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