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#3 Thapa puts up an exceptional performance
Even though Chennaiyin FC finished in the bottom of the Indian Super League, their coach John Gregory was effusive in his praise to Anirudh Thapa and marked him as a future star of Indian football. The world caught a glimpse of his talent in the AFC Asian Cup.
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Thapa started from where he left in the ISL. From the very first minute, he was commanding in the midfield and provided regular passes to the attackers. His goal was the difference between the two teams.
The Uttarakhand-born midfielder used his brilliant mind and followed the ball after Raynier Fernandes took an innocuous free-kick. When Adil made the cross, no one was marking Thapa on the right side. The Chennaiyin FC midfielder coolly slotted the ball home.
It was his second goal in India colours. The first one came in January at the Asian Cup against the same opponents.
Not once but twicem he saved his team from conceding a goal. After he had put India in the lead, Thapa denied Thailand a definite goal, with a stunning block on the line. In the second half, he cleared a dangerous header from an unmarked Thailand player off the line as well.
