2011 SAFF Cup: India retain title against Afghanistan

Team India has defended the title of South Asian champions by winning the 2011 SAFF Cup with a 4-0 win against Afghanistan at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.

But the result does not reflect the match as India had their problems with a spirited Afghanistan, who had the better chances in the first session; but after the break India regrouped and got better and better.

Things changed for India when Afghanistan goalkeeper Hameedullah Yousufzari brought down Jeje Lalpekhlua with the Afghan captain getting his marching orders which Sunil Chhetri scored from the penalty after it took minutes for the referee to restart the game.

But after losing a man Afghanistan were no match for India as Clifford Miranda made it 2-0 in the 77th minute of a right-footer with Jeje making it three only a couple of minutes later to seal the match with three goals in nine minutes. Substitute Sushil Kumar Singh scored of a spectacular long-ranger in injury time to make it 4-0, a result too harch on the Afghans.

After a shaky start into the tournament India did find its form with especially Sunil Chhetri being instrumental with seven goals to his name with Syed Rahim Nabi also having a great tournament.


INDIA
1-Karanjit Singh; 4-Nirmal Chetri, 14-Mahesh Gawli, 19-Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, 22-Syed Rahim Nabi; 12-Anthony Pereira (70' 23-Steven Benedic Dias), 8-Climax Lawrence [C], 21-Rocus Lamare, 15-Clifford Miranda (20-Lalrindika Ralte); 10-Jeje Lalpekhlua, 11-Sunil Chhetri (81' 18-Sushil Kumar Singh)