Photo: Collected
Few would have imagined that Bhutan, two goals down at half-time, would make the match so gripping. In the first half the cutting edge in attack and control of midfield all belonged to defending champions India, and their opponents looked helpless. But the picture changed after the break. Bhutan pulled one back to get into the contest, causing one scare after another in India’s defence. VAR also loomed large in deciding the two sides’ fortunes. In the end, with no further goals, India won 2-1 to reach the final of the SAFF Championship.
India went on the attack from the start of the first semi-final at the National Stadium, and the goal came in the eighth minute. PV Vishnu controlled a teammate’s long pass in front of the box, slipped the ball between the legs of Bhutan defender Nima Wangdi and then sent a right-footed shot inside the far post. India took comfort from the goal of individual brilliance, while Bhutan came under pressure early.
In the 27th minute captain Chinglensana Singh got the ball in a goalmouth scramble from a corner. His volley took a deflection into the net to double the lead, and a big win beckoned for India. More chances came in the first half, but striker Suhail Ahmad Bhat could not take them. Goalkeeper Gyeltshen Jangpo and defender Tenzin Norbu kept out India’s attacks in turn. Suhail also wasted an easy chance from Vishnu’s cross.
That comfort did not last after the break. Bhutan, who had reached the semis without a single win in the group stage, attacked with new energy, led from the front by captain Chencho Gyeltshen. Pressure mounted on India’s defence. In the middle of this, Bhutan got a goal with the help of the remote video assistant referee (VAR) technology being used at SAFF for the first time.
Soon after the break Kinzang Tashi Tobden headed home from Chencho’s effort. The assistant referee had raised his flag for offside, but after a VAR check the referee awarded the goal. With the score at 2-1 the tension rose manyfold, and Bhutan became even more attacking in search of an equaliser.
Goalkeeper Arsh Anwer Shaikh somehow kept out a deflected shot from Chencho to save India. VAR was back in the spotlight when Irfan Yadwad’s cross struck the hand of Bhutan’s Nima Wangdi and the referee gave India a penalty. After watching the replay he later reversed the decision. The cancelled penalty brought relief to the Bhutan camp and fresh worry for India.
In the closing stages India were kept busy holding off Bhutan’s pressure. In the group stage the side had led Pakistan 3-0 but ended up winning only 3-2. Bhutan were bringing back memories of conceding those two goals in stoppage time right up to the final moments. This time, however, India did not concede.
Bhutan had reached the SAFF semi-finals for the first time since 2008. Eighteen years ago they went out after losing 2-1 to this same India, and this time too the defeat came by the same margin. With the win India reached the SAFF final for a record 14th time. Their opponents in the 17 November final will be known after the second semi-final at 8:30pm, where Bangladesh face Pakistan.
Sources
Original report: Ajker Patrika
