India beat Nepal 4-2 in a high-octane match to progress to the ultimate of the 2024 SAFF U17 Championship on the Changlimithang Stadium right here on Saturday.
After a goalless first half, India scored by way of Vishal Yadav (61st and 68th minutes), Rishi Singh (eighty fifth) and Hemneichung Lunkim (90+5), whereas Subash Bam (81st) and an personal objective by India’s Mohammed Kaif (89th) allowed Nepal to cut back the margin.
Within the title conflict to be performed on Monday, India await the winners of the second semifinal between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The primary half was devoid of too many clear probabilities as groups have been cautious committing too many numbers ahead, and sizing one another up.
India’s midfielders have been those who held extra of the possession however discovered it robust to interrupt down Nepal’s defence.
India received the primary probability within the twelfth minute, when a defensive mix-up throughout the Nepal field noticed the ball fall to Md Arbash on the left wing. Recognizing the goalkeeper off his line, Arbash took a first-timer from a good angle and distance, but it surely flew excessive and broad.
Within the thirty eighth minute, a cross from Bharat Lairenjam dropped completely right into a harmful space, begging to be put into objective. An onrushing Arbash dove in a useless try to get his head to it after which so did Samson Ahongshangbam behind him, however to no avail.
The most effective probability of the half went begging and the 2 groups went into the break locked in a good stalemate.
India took the lead within the 61st minute by way of a mixture of good tactical play and a poacher’s intuition for objective. A neatly labored nook noticed the ball cross deep in the direction of the far put up from the appropriate wing.
Having made a wonderfully timed run, Sumit Sharma Brahmacharimayum received a close-range header on the right track just for Nepal’s goalkeeper Pemba Nurbu Bhote to parry it away.
India’s second objective was similar to the primary and got here a mere seven minutes later. A cross from the appropriate by Karish Soram was met by Sumit and once more, Yadav was proper there to make the most effective use of the rebound from the goalkeeper.
Nepal pulled one objective again within the 81st minute, with Bam ending well having been performed by way of on objective.
However, 4 minutes later India re-established the two-goal cushion as substitute Ningthoukhongjam Rishi Singh, who got here on to the pitch solely a few minutes earlier, headed from a nook on the close to put up.
Nepal received one other objective again within the 89th minute when Mohammed Kaif deflected a nook into his personal web. As tempers rose it appeared Nepal had discovered a approach again but it surely was to not be.
Substitute Hemneichung Lunkim scored India’s fourth within the fifth minute of harm time to make sure a spot for his facet.
Printed – September 29, 2024 02:50 am IST
