In a thrilling encounter at the SAFF Championship 2023, India emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Nepal, securing their place in the semifinals. The match showcased the brilliance of Sunil Chhetri and Mahesh, who both found the back of the net to propel India to success. With their impressive goals, India displayed their strength and determination on the field, outplaying Nepal. The victory marked a significant milestone for India as they advanced to the next stage of the tournament. Stay tuned for more updates as India continues their journey in the SAFF Championship 2023.
Sunil Chhetri once again demonstrated his prowess as India emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over a resilient Nepal side in the SAFF Championship 2023 quarterfinals held at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
The first half proved to be a lackluster affair, with few scoring opportunities and several mistakes in possession. However, it was Chhetri who broke the deadlock just after the hour mark, notching his 91st international goal. Mahesh orchestrated a beautiful one-two with Sahal Abdul Samad on the left flank, creating space to deliver a precise pass across the face of the goal. Taking advantage of his expert movement as a center-forward, Chhetri cleverly evaded the left center-back and calmly tapped the ball home from close range, showcasing his poaching instincts.
This well-executed goal was in stark contrast to the preceding moments of the match. Up until that point, Nepal goalkeeper and captain Kiran Kumar Limbu had faced minimal trouble, except for some pressure exerted by Chhetri during his attempts to clear the ball.
India had made significant changes to their lineup, with only Chhetri, Sahal, and Thapa retaining their positions from the previous match against Pakistan. The effects of these changes were evident as the team struggled to establish a cohesive style of play and failed to pose any significant threat until Chhetri’s breakthrough. Shortly after the goal, Mahesh Gawli, deputizing for the suspended Igor Stimac, made two substitutions that bolstered India’s dominance for the remainder of the game.
The introduction of Jeakson Singh provided stability and control in the central midfield, while Lallianzuala Chhangte’s presence on the right flank kept Nepal on the defensive. With this newfound control and a 1-0 lead, India settled into their tactical shape, inviting Nepal to attack and then exploiting the counter-attack opportunities.
In the 70th minute, India extended their lead to 2-0 through a swift counter-attack. Sahal, who had previously struggled with decision-making, made a determined run with the ball and cleverly played a through pass to Chhetri, who found space between the defensive lines. Chhetri received the ball, outwitted a defender with his skillful dribbling, and cut inside another before unleashing a shot towards goal. Limbu managed to save the initial effort, but the ball rebounded off the crossbar and fell perfectly onto Mahesh’s head, resulting in his debut international goal. It was a close-range finish, highlighting the contrast between Mahesh’s goal and Chhetri’s impressive scoring record.
On the defensive end, apart from an early save from a powerful Arik Bista volley, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu had a relatively quiet game in the Indian goal, as the team secured their eighth consecutive clean sheet, setting a new record.
India will now face Kuwait in a crucial match on Tuesday, June 27, to determine the group topper. Kuwait secured their place with a convincing 4-0 victory over Pakistan earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Nepal and Pakistan, who have been eliminated from the tournament, will compete for a consolation win on the same day.