When you make as many as eight modifications to your beginning XI when qualification for the knockouts continues to be on the road, it exhibits that your crew is brimming with confidence. But there’s a really skinny line between confidence and over-confidence, and the primary half of India’s SAFF Cup conflict towards Nepal on the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday was tilting towards the latter.
The very youthful Nepal crew, ranked 174th on this planet, continually threatened the Indian defence with their pacy counters and imaginative via balls.
Thankfully for India coach Igor Stimac — who needed to watch the sport within the stands after receiving a pink card in India’s final match, a 4-0 win over Pakistan — skipper Sunil Chhetri continued his glowing kind, scoring within the 61st minute to interrupt the impasse earlier than Mahesh Naroem doubled the rating within the seventieth minute to ship India via to the semifinal of the match.
Bangalore 💙 #IndianFootball #SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #NEPIND ⚔️ #IndianFootball ⚽️ #BlueTigers 🐯 pic.twitter.com/qCMrttCSGh
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 24, 2023
Chhetri, who scored a hat-trick towards Pakistan, prolonged his document India aim tally to 91.
It was clear that India’s technique was certainly one of all-out assault, with Sahal Abdul Samad being the driving drive in midfield. But it was Nepal who appeared to calm down rapidly. After thwarting two makes an attempt from Sahal, the guests might’ve simply gone forward within the seventeenth minute.
Laken Limbu delivered a beautiful curling ball from a nook that Mehtab Singh headed away, nevertheless it fell to Nepal midfielder Arik Bista simply outdoors the field. Bista related beautifully, drilling a low shot nicely heading in the right direction. It took the short reflexes of the towering Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who dived low to his left to dam it. It was the very best probability of the half and possibly Nepal’s greatest probability of the sport.
Attack on the left
While India failed to attain within the first half, they confirmed loads of promise with their link-up play on the left wing. Left-back Akash Mishra, who simply signed with Mumbai City FC earlier this week, linked up beautifully with Mahesh and Sahal to create a continuing risk on that wing.
In reality, it was the link-up between the trio that resulted in India’s opening aim. Akash managed to cull out a cross to Mahesh ready on the left flank. Mahesh performed a fast one-two with Sahal after which rolled a superb via ball for Chhetri, who managed to zip previous his marker and put the ball into the again of the web.
Stepped up and obtained the job accomplished 💪🏽👏🏽
Mahesh Gawli led the #BlueTigers 🐯 to a cushty victory because the coach on the touch-line 💙🙌🏽#SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #NEPIND ⚔️ #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/0XVhEnsYav
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 24, 2023
If India attacked from the left flank earlier than scoring, it modified to the appropriate flank with Lallianzuala Chhangte approaching within the 63rd minute. The diminutive striker, who has been a drive to reckon with, seemed threatening every time he had the ball at his ft.
23-year-old Mahesh capped his fabulous night time, by scoring his first aim in India colors. After getting possession within the centre of the pitch, Sahal launched it to Chhetri on the appropriate. The India veteran went previous a defender, entered the field, and took his time earlier than unleashing a robust shot that ricocheted off the Nepal goalkeeper onto the crossbar. Mahesh was first to satisfy the rebound, heading it into the again of the web to safe the victory for India.
Changes in line-up
Change appears to be the one fixed for Stimac, because the coach has but to decide on his most popular taking part in XI. In the Intercontinental Cup, which India performed and gained earlier this month, he made 9 modifications after the opener towards Mongolia and a further 10 modifications for the league match towards Lebanon. So it was no shock as he determined to retain simply three gamers for the match towards minnows Nepal.
However, it’s crucial that Stimac zeroes in on his beginning XI and permits them to play collectively forward of the King’s Cup in September and the all-important FIFA World Cup qualifiers that can observe. The crew must be fully set forward of the extraordinarily tough AFC Asian Cup in January the place India is drawn alongside Asian giants Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria.
