SAFF Championship 2013: Nepal 2-1 India - Holders through to the semis despite defeat

India: Subrata Pal, Nirmal Chettri, Gouramangi Singh, Arnab Mondal, Nallappan Mohanraj, Syed Rahim Nabi, Jewel Raja, Mehtab Hossain, Arata Izumi (Lenny Rodrigues 74), Jeje Lalpeklua (Robin Singh 58), Sunil Chhetri

Nepal: Kiran Chemjong ; Biraj Mahajan, Sandip Rai, Sagar Thapa, Robin Shrestha; Bhola Nath Silwal, Raju Tamang (Bikram Lama 65), Rohit Chand, Jagjeet Shrestha (Jumanu Rai 27); Anil Gurung, Bharat Khawas (Bimal Magar 82).

India 1 (Nabi 90+1)

Nepal 2 (Anil 69 Jumanu 80)

India were beaten 2-1 by Nepal in their final group game on Thursday at SAFF Championship 2013 but progressed to the semi-finals because of their win against Pakistan last Sunday. Both arch-rivals finished with four points each following Pakistan’s 2-1 win over Bangladesh in the other game, but the defending champions India make the last four due to the superior head-to-head record.

Nepal went in front in the second half through former Shillong Lajong striker Anil Gurung and from a counter attack Jumanu Rai doubled their advantage. India pulled one back through reigning AIFF Player of the Year Syed Rahim Nabi but couldn’t avoid the loss. This is the senior national team’s first defeat in the SAFF Championship group stage since 2003.

India’s best player in the first two games, Francis Fernandes, was a doubt before this encounter and thus made way for the versatile Nabi in the starting lineup. The other change from Koevermans was the inclusion of Arata Izumi, who got his first start for India, in place of Lenny Rodrigues in central midfield.

For Nepal, star striker Anil was a doubt before the game but eventually made the starting eleven. However, the biggest surprise in the team sheet was the inclusion of Nepali Messi Jagjeet Shreshtha, who had an injury on his heel before the game.

Nepal started the game on the front foot but it was India who had the first real attempt on goal. It was a weak one though as Jeje’s shot was straight at Nepal goalkeeper Limbu.

The passionate home support was always going to be make the difference for the hosts and slowly they settled into the game and created some chances.

India survived a corner but they didn’t clear the danger which allowed Silwal to put in a teasing cross. It almost caught out Subrata Pal as he somehow pushed it away. It was a huge scare for India and it further raised the noise levels inside the stadium.

Wim Koevermans’ side though were struggling to make openings with Arata’s header from a Nirmal Chhetri cross being the only meaningful attack but it missed the target by a mile.

Although both teams only need a point, Nepal looked to get the opener and were putting aerial balls towards Anil Gurung. The former I-League player flicked one such ball towards Khawas but Subrata was quickly out of his line to gather.

A minute later though, Nepal suffered a blow as Jagjeet had to come off and was replaced by veteran Jumanu Rai.

As the half progressed, the atmosphere was strangely getting to the Indian players although most of the members have plenty of experience playing in front of big crowds. Koevermans’ side were getting penalised for most of the 50-50 challenges with the atmosphere getting to the Jordanian referee also.

In the closing stages of the half, Nepal had a strong appeal for handball against Arnab Mondal but the referee waved play on. Just before the interval, Jewel also had a half chance from outside the box but his effort was off target.

Koevermans made a positive tactical change at the start of the second half as India switched to 4-4-2, with Jeje partnering Sunil upfront. But it was Nepal who had the first effort on goal after the interval as Silwal tested Subrata from long range.

Koevermans replaced Jeje with Robin Singh to add a physical presence in India’s attack but even before he could make an impact, India suffered a setback as Sunil earned a yellow card for a soft foul. This booking was his second of the group stage and if the bookings are carrying into the semi-finals, the India captain will be suspended.

India’s attacks looked more meaningful once they started operating with two upfront as Robin Singh had an effort blocked from a corner.

Nepal’s Polish-American coach Jack Stefanowski brought on Bikram Lama in place of Raju Tamang and the substitute had an instant impact as he was involved in the opening goal. Sandip Rai played a freekick into the box with Lama getting his head to it before an onrushing Subrata Pal and the header hit the bar but Anil slotted home from the rebound.

The goal sparked wild celebrations inside the stadium with all Indian journalists nervously checking the score of the other game which was locked 1-1 at stage.

India were unable to find a response and instead of keeping their shape at 1-0, a scoreline which would have seen them through even if Bangladesh defeated Pakistan, they went all out for the equaliser and conceded from a counter attack.

After stopping an Indian attack, a through ball released the overlapping left back Robin Shrestha whose low cross was put into the back of the net by Jumanu.

At that point it was still 1-1 at the Halchowk Stadium so a late winner for Bangladesh would have seen India eliminated from the group stage for the first time in SAFF Championship history.

There were two late goals in both games but fortunately both were in their favour of India. First, Nabi half volleyed home Jewel Raja’s low cross to make 2-1 at the Dasarath Stadium while Pakistan grabbed a late winner through Kaleemullah but it wasn’t enough to take them through as India progressed thanks to their fortuitous 1-0 win last Sunday.