Re: SAFF Soccer Championship
India outclass Bangladesh to regain title
KARACHI, Dec 17: India exacted a sweet revenge when they regained SAFF soccer championship crown in style after a deserved 2-0 victory over goal-shy holders Bangladesh at People’s Sports Complex on Saturday.
The victory not only gave the Indians the coveted title for the fourth time, they avenged their 2-1 semifinal loss to Bangladesh in 2003 in Dhaka that had ended their domination in the competition since its inception in 1993.
India, who were the 1993, 1997 and 1999 winners before Saturday’s facile triumph, pocketed $75,000 apart from glittering trophy received by captain Baichung Bhutia, while Bangladesh got $25,000 runners-up prize by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in front of almost packed-to-capacity crowd.
Cautious with each other, the two sides were on the defensive for at least 12 minutes, remaining confined to the midfield most of the time. It was in the 13th minute that Indians penetrated Bangladeshi box only to see Syed Rahim Nabi sending the ball wide off target.
The Bangladeshis, who grabbed the 2003 title with 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Maldives, retaliated two minutes later, Rokonuzzaman Kanchan missing the opening and Alfaz hitting a defender from 18 yards.
India had real goal-scoring opportunity in the 27th minute but Climax Lawrence wasted a Venka Tesh pass, sending the ball across the face of the goal.
Eagerly looking for the opening goal, the Indians were involved in some reckless shots that did not yield results. Ajayan K. N came into action but his shot sailed over the bar, while Rajeeb Ahmed set up Nabi who failed despite being unmarked in the 31st minute.
India eventually got what they were looking for in the 34th minute when Mehraj Uddin drilled home from the edge of the box after a scramble involving Bhutia and Steven Benedict Dias.
The goal proved a wake-up call for Bangladesh as they counter-attacked the next moment, Ariful Kabir Farhad cleverly assisting Alfaz who missed the sitter.
Mahesh Gawli of India was yellow carded in the 40th minute for faking injury after the player went to the touchline and wished to join the team-mates immediately.
While the first half entered into injury–time, the Indians were still lurking to poach their second. They came near doubling the lead but Venka Tesh backpass was shot by Mehraj Uddin over the woodwork from long range.
The Indians mounted pressure soon after lemons with Mehraj Uddin challenging Bangladesh defenders and goalkeeper Aminul Hoque with a rising drive that sailed over the target in the 50th minute.
Farhad ghosted past a defender from the left side only to fluff the promising opening, sending the drive over the crossbar in the 73rd minute.
Undaunted, India grabbed the second in the 81st minute when substitute Abdul Hakkim squared an inch-perfect pass and best-player-of-the-championship Bhutia’s clinical strike finished off the job, beating Hoque all ends up.
While the Bangladeshis were a disjointed lot, especially after conceding the second goal, the Indians stepped up pressure with regular attacks that could not move the scoreboard.
Soon after second goal, Lawrence perfectly fed Mehraj Uddin whose lob could not produce results, while Hakkim’s dipping header struck a defender in the goal area in the 85th minute.
It was the last chance for Bangladesh to reduce the margin in the injury-time but Kanchan squandered an Alfaz free kick.
Bhutan were awarded Fairplay Trophy.