2012 AFC Challenge Cup: India suffer 0-4 North Korea defeat

India suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat against North Korea in their final Group B match in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu. With the third loss in as many matches, India have finished bottom of Group B with no goal and no points.

North Korea were favourites being into the match and it showed with the Indians unable to keep-up with the Koreans pace and precision, while also continueing to commit mistakes.

North Korea took an early fourth minute lead when Kuk-Chol Jang provided a clever back pass to an unmarked Kwang-Ik Jon who coolly guided the ball past Indian goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury. The Koreans scored their second goal after Subhashish's weak attempt to clear a Chol-Myong Ri cross fell into the path of an unmarked Kwang-Hyok Ri, who slotted home in the 34th minute. India's only real chance fell to captain Sunil Chhetri off a cross from Francis Fernandes with the Delhi boy shooting over.

After the break things remained the same. After losing Reisangmi Vashum due to an injury in the first session, Sunil Chhetri limped-off in the second half as North Korea added two more goals. First Nam-Chol Pak beat three Indian defenders and keeper Subhashish in the 59th minute and then in the 70th minute Chol-Myong Ri added another through a header.

After the match a disappointed Savio Medeira said, "Everyone saw it, the team lacked spirit and there was no one willing to show responsibility and as a coach it isn't very heartening to see those things in the field."


MATCH STATS

North Korea 4-0 (2-0) India - Goals: 1-0 Kwang-Ik Jon (4'), 2-0 Kwang-Hyok Ri (34'), 3-0 Nam-Chol Pak (58'), 4-0 Chol-Myong Ri (70')

NORTH KOREA
...
Substitutes: ...

INDIA
25-Subhasish Roy Chowdhury; 4-Nirmal Chetri, 19-Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, 3-Raju Eknath Gaikwad, 22-Syed Rahim Nabi; 12-Anthony Pereira, 21-Rocus Lamare, 28-Jewel Raja Sheikh (61' 47-Lenny Rodrigues), 32-Reisangmi Vashum (32' 26-Francis Fernandes); 18-Sushil Kumar Singh, 11-Sunil Chhetri [C] (66' 6-C.S. Sabeeth)
Substitutes: 1-Karanjit Singh, 36-Arindam Bhattacharya; 5-Anwar, 9-Joaquim Santan Abranches, 16-Samir Naik, 17-Adil Ahmed Khan, 20-Lalrindika Ralte, 27-Gurjinder Kumar Singh, 40-Kingshuk Debnath