2012 Nehru Cup: India score convincing 3-0 against Maldives

Defending champions India won 3-0 against the Maldives in their second match of the 2012 Nehru Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. The hosts had won their opening match 2-1 against Syria and are now top with six points from two games.

It was an even game early on with both teams testing each others defence though the game was mainly confined to the midfield. The Maldives had the best chance of the first session through their captain Ali Ashfaq but an alert Subrata Pal averted danger for India.

As the game seemed heading into a goalless break, a Syed Rahim Nabi shot on the stroke of half-time hit the hand of a Maldives defender inside the box and the referee showed to the dreaded spot. There was some arguments between the referee and the Maldives player, but the decision had been made and it was final. India captain Sunil Chhetri walked-up to the spot and send Maldives keeper Mohaamed Imran the wrong way to give India the lead. It is interesting to note that today like against Syria three days ago, Chhetri scored his goal in the second minute of the first half injury time.

India coach Wim Koevermans made a change at the break by taking off winger Sanju Pradhan and bringing his East Bengal team mate Robin Singh on. Robin getting his India debut moved into the lone striker position, Sunil Chhetri dropped back while Francis Fernandes moved into Sanju's position. And that would work for India.

India doubled the lead in the 53rd minute when a Clifford Miranda corner was headed in by Syed Rahim Nabi and thereafter India took charge of the game, but only in the 70th minute India would score their third. Again it would be captain Sunil Chhetri, this time with a great header to make it 3-0 off a perfect Francis Fernandes cross.

The Maldives were beaten and Sunil Chhetri could have gotten his third off the night but his strike from a counter-attack hit the left post, while Robin Singh also could have scored on his debut but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Mohammed Imran. Maldives towards the end tried to get their consolation goal, but that would not come.

Wim Koevermans will be a very happy man especially how India played the second session, but it was also a great substitution at half-time and change by the Dutch coach which resulted in the end result.

India's next opponent will be neighbours Nepal on Tuesday, August 28.


MATCH STATS

India 3-0 (1-0) Maldives - Goals: 1-0,3-0 Sunil Chhetri (45+2', penalty; 70'), 2-0 Syed Rahim Nabi (53')

India
1-Subrata Pal - 4-Nirmal Chetri (90' 2-Denzil Franco), 3-Raju Gaikwad, 19-Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, 22-Syed Rahim Nabi - 8-Sanju Pradhan (46' 24-Robin Singh), 20-Mehtab Hussain, 6-Lenny Rodrigues, 15-Clifford Miranda (77' 14-Anthony Pereira) - 26-Francis Fernandes - 11-Sunil Chhetri [C]

Maldives
25-Mohaamed Imran - 2-Abdulla Ahmed, 3-Mohammed Shifan, 4-Mohammed Umair, 17-Shafiu Ahmed - 8-Rilwan Waheed (60' 12-Rasheed Ahmed), 6-Mohammed Arif, 19-Mohamed Rasheed - 7-Ali Ashfaq [C], 14-Abdulla Asadhulla (73' 21-Ahmed Rasheed) - 10-Ashadh Ali (83' 15-Ismail Easa)

Referee
... (United Arab Emirates)