India get Kiwi jolt before final
INTERCONTINENTAL CUP Chhetri goal goes in vain as hosts go down 21
MUMBAI: Another full house at the Mumbai Football Arena and another Sunil Chhetri goal. But it wasn’t a happy ending for highflying India as New Zealand made a fine comeback masterminded by Kiwi rising star Sarpreet Singh, handing the hosts a 2-1 defeat in the Intercontinental Cup football on Thursday.
A bizarre goal had given India the lead two minutes after the restart. New Zealand pulled one back through Andre De Jong, who was set up by Sarpreet, less than a minute later. The Kiwi prodigy would go on to set-up substitute Moses Dyer’s winner four minutes from time.
Both teams finished their league engagements with two wins and a loss (6 points). India, with a superior goal difference are guaranteed a spot in Sunday’s final. Surprise package New Zealand will have to rely on Chinese Taipei restricting Kenya to two goals or less in the last league game on Friday. Coach Stephen Constantine made seven changes to India’s starting eleven from their wins over Kenya and Chinese Taipei.
Dominating physically as well as on the wings, a majority of New Zealand’s chances took the aerial route. Bringing up his 50th appearance in national colours, Jeje Lalpekhlua made way for Balwant Singh at the restart.
The changes seem to make an immediate impact with India pressing forward and forcing New Zealand into conceding a bizarre goal. A back pass to goalekeeper Michael Woud forced him to the edge of the box and his attempted clearance was converted by Chhetri.
Less than a minute later, New Zealand equalised after Sarpreet slipped Andre through. The midfielder calmly slotted it past a rushing Amrinder, registering the first goal against India in the tournament. They found the winner in the 86th minute after some good work from Sarpreet. The winger skipped beat three defenders before Myers gave the finishing touch.