Nepal made it to the SAFF final for the first time in 28 years but lost to India, on Saturday. Photo Courtesy: ANFA
Two second half goals in quick succession shattered Nepal's ambition of lifting their first SAFF Championship title, as they faced a 3-0 defeat against India in the final of the sub-continental football tournament at the National Football Stadium in Maldives on Saturday.
Following a goalless first half, India captain Sunil Chhetri made the breakthrough three minutes into the restart and Suresh Singh doubled the advantage two minutes later in the game played under a downpour. Substitute Sahal Abdul Samad nailed the victory with a third goal in stoppage time.
The outcome was a huge blow to Nepal who made it to the final for the first time since the tournament's inception in 1993.
Nepal started with Nawayug Shrestha as lone forward against the mighty South Asian opponent who lifted the trophy for the record eight times in 13 editions of the games. Nepal's star player Rohit Chand started as attacking midfielder instead of central defender.
Pre-tournament favourites India, who struggled at the start of the tournament, lived up to their billing and dominated the show from the onset. They controlled the ball possession and threatened Nepali post as early as in the fourth minute, calling goalie Kiran Limbu into action. The Nepali captain fumbled an easy strike from Yasir Mohammed but reacted quickly to deny Anirudh Thapa's second attempt on goal.
Nepal, playing in the absence of influential winger Anjan Bista due to double yellow, failed to muster a single remarkable shot on target in the first half while India came closer to scoring in the 44th only for India striker Chhetri to volley Pritam Kotal cross above the bar from the area.
Nepal's defence line up comprising Dinesh Rajbanshi, Ananta Tamang, Gautam Shrestha and Suman Aryal though resisted Indian attacks in the first half, prolific forward Chhetri made the breakthrough for India in the 48th minute. The talisman headed Thapa's tight angle cross to stun Nepali goalie Limbu and score his 80th international goal to come level on Argentina's Lionel Messi feat.
India doubled the lead in the 50th as Suresh Singh, left unmarked, applied a one-touch strike to convert Mohammed's cut back pass from the area.
Nepal made three changes promptly after conceding twice bringing in winger Manish Dangi, Aysuh Ghalan and Bishal Rai, but neither of them could make any impact. India captain Chhetri threatened yet again in the 65th only for goalkeeper Limbu to deny his close range effort.
Nepal's best chance came in the 77th when Rohti Chand's header in Sunil Bal's freekick struck the bar.
Sahal stamped India's dominance in the fading moments as he dazzled around Nepali defenders inside the box before sending a low ball past goalie Limbu.
Long before the game kicked off on Saturday, Nepal head coach Abdullah Almutairi cried foul over his suspension by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).
Almutairi alleged that the federation “was favouring the Indian side”.
He was suspended for the final game, owing to two yellow cards he had received in separate matches of the group stage, with the last one in Nepal’s last group stage game against Bangladesh on Wednesday.
Calling a virtual press conference on Saturday, Almutairi claimed that his suspension was against the SAFF regulation. Producing the tournament regulation which states ‘a player or official sent off (red carded) during the tournament shall automatically be suspended from the following match.’
The regulation, however, is mum on whether the coach is suspended in the event of receiving two yellow cards in separate games of the tournament. But in the case of a player, it clearly states that a player would be disqualified for the next match if two yellow cards are shown in two different games.
“The tournament must be run by regulations, but if you don’t want to follow the rules, the game cannot develop,” said Almutairi from Kuwait who has already announced his resignation as Nepal’s coach. On Wednesday, moments after Nepal pulled off a 1-1 draw against Bangladesh to secure their spot in the final, Almutairi said he would not continue as Nepal’s coach after Saturday’s game.
Hours before Saturday’s game, Almutairi accused SAFF of favouring India, saying: “Give the gold to India if you want; we will walk away with the silver.”
He also said that the reason for his suspension was because India’s Croatian coach Igor Stimac too was suspended for a red card in the last match against Maldives.
