New Delhi: India brought their SAFF Cup campaign emphatically back on track with a 5-0 drubbing of minnows Bhutan at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday, moving themselves to the top of Group A.
The impressive Syed Rahim Nabi opened the scoring at the half-hour mark after India were denied thrice by the offside flag, before a brace each for Sunil Chettri and Clifford Miranda completed the rout.
India had begun the tournament with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Afghanistan, the second lowest-ranked team in the competition. This time up against the lowest-ranked team at 198, India responded with a dominant performance against a Bhutan side that had set themselves out only to defend, something they failed to do against the rampant hosts.
Coach Savio Medeira had said before the match that the goal difference would be on their minds, and accordingly, India signalled their intentions with a positive start.
Chettri went close in the eighth minute with a header, and then again in the 12th minute, losing control of the ball before he could get a shot away. His strike partner Jeje Lalpekhula went past two defenders soon after, but his shot was just wide.
India were easily controlling possession and they finally had the ball in the back of the net in the 16th minute, when an Anthony Pereira corner was headed across by Chettri for Nabi to score, but the Mohun Bagan winger was ruled offside. The flag went against Nabi a second time four minutes later, and incredibly, a third time in the 27th minute when he got a touch on Chettri’s shot off a rebound that went in.
He was not to be denied a fourth time however, as a Clifford Miranda corner was headed in by Nabi at the far post. It was just reward for the tireless 25-year-old, who was at the heart of most of India’s attacks from the left flank.
India continued to look dangerous and had several other chances before Miranda himself got on the scoresheet, controlling a pass from Chettri on the right before slotting home at the near post.
Bhutan, who had never won a match against India in two previous attempts, scarcely managed any time on the ball, much less any forays into the Indian half. In contrast, India played out the game almost entirely in the opposition half as they looked to attack at every opportunity.
It was the same story in the second half as the hosts looked to add to their goal tally. Chettri and Jeje came close again, while a superb solo run by Nabi in the 53rd minute as he ran past five Bhutanese players ended with a right-footed shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Miranda had come in for some criticism after the first match, and he earned some redemption with his second goal of the night to cap a much-improved performance, scoring with a stinging volley from inside the box from a Chettri pass. He returned the favour in 69th minute, Chettri’s side-footed shot from Miranda’s cross hitting the overhead bar before going in.
The Dempo midfielder was taken off soon after but India’s substitutes combined well, although Jewel Raja headed wide from a fine cross from Lalrindika Ralte and later from Nirmal Chettri, who had replaced the injured Samir Naik in defence.
Chettri then scored his second six minutes from time with an excellent goal. The Mohun Bagan striker got the better off three players before his sharp shot went past the overworked Bhutan goalkeeper, Mon Bdr Bhattrai, whose side ended the match without a single shot on target.
The comprehensive win – coach Medeira’s first in a competitive game – has taken the defending champions a step closer to the semi-finals, with India needing only a draw in their last match against Sri Lanka to progress. It may have come against the whipping boys of the group, but confidence will be high, and a repeat performance will also help India win the group they had been expected to top at the start.
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