INDIA CRUISE TO SAFF FINAL WITH SMASHING WIN
India powered their way into the SAFF Football Championship final with a smashing 3-1 victory over hosts Maldives in the last league match of the tournament played at the National Stadium in Male yesterday.
After the scores were level 1-1 at half-time, India produced their best performance in this tournament to add two more goals to their tally in the second half and set up a final showdown with Nepal on Saturday.
Striker Sunil Chhetri turned out to be the match winner for India as he struck twice in the space of nine minutes after the exchanges were even in the first half.
India opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when Manvir Singh found the net after receiving a neat pass from B. Fernandes.
However, the Maldives came back into the game almost at the stroke of half time with a penalty goal from striker Ali Ashfaq.
But India proved their dominance in the second half by completely dictating play with Chhetri scoring in the 62nd and 71st minute respectively.
With this win, India finish on top of the group collecting eight points from their four outings, one point more than Nepal who they will now meet in the final.