Eye on eighth title, unbeaten India brace up for Maldives
DHAKA: Boosted by an undefeated run, seven-time champions India will start as favourites against Maldives in the summit clash of the South Asian Football Federation Cup here on Saturday.
The Indian team, comprising under-23 players except for one, has been the only unbeaten side in the tournament. India have beaten Sri Lanka (2-0) and Maldives (2-0) in the group stages before prevailing over Pakistan (3-1) in the semi-finals.
The defending champions will be chasing their eighth triumph in 12 editions and third back-to-back titles as they seek to continue their stranglehold in the regional tournament.
Maldives have not played in the final in the last three editions, losing in the semi-finals each time.
India, on the other hand, have played in the final of all the earlier 11 editions except in 2003.
The last time the Bangabandhu Stadium here hosted the tournament in 2009, India and Maldives faced each other in the summit clash and both sides could not score a goal till extratime.
India won that final in penalty shootout.
India coach Stephen Constantine would not want the title clash to meander towards penalty shootout but his players cannot take Maldives lightly though the island country has been struggling in the group stages.
“Maldives have shown their worth in the semi-final against Nepal. A 3-0 win against Nepal was not an easy task.
“Even though we beat them in the group stage, we cannot afford to disrespect them. We have to keep in mind that three of their main players did not play against us,” Constantine said ahead of the final.
“Maldives have our full respect and we are expecting a tough game tomorrow,” he said.
Constantine said his players have the added incentive of doing as they can earn a place in the Asian Cup squad.
“These boys have a carrot in front of them which is a berth in the Asian Cup squad,” he said.