SAFF Championship 2013: India vs Pakistan - India ahead on statistics

File photo of Indian football

In a little while, India take on Pakistan in their 2013 SAFF Championship – Group A opener at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal and if one looks at the history books, then India is clearly ahead.

Overall, India and Pakistan have met 30 times in international football matches with India winning 17, Pakistan winning five, and eight of the matches ending in a draw. In these 30 matches, India have scored 45 goals and Pakistan 23.

The last match between the two neighbours was played at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which India won 3-1 with goals from Jeje Lalpekhlua (double strike) and Steven Benedic Dias.

The biggest win for India came on October 2, 2010 at the 2010 SAF Games in Dhaka, a 5-1 victory with a Jeje Lalpekhlua hattrick and further goals from Lalrindika Ralte and Tirthankar Sarkar.

This means Jeje is currently on five goals in the last couple of matches against Pakistan and surely the new Dempo striker will want to build on that track record.

In further interesting India-Pakistan facts, former India striker I.M. Vijayan has scored the maximum number of goals in clashes between the two nations, scoring nine goals in total.

Also, brothers Neville and Derek De Souza share an unique record against Pakistan as both made their International debut against Pakistan in the 1950s.

The Kick-off is at 18.30 Nepali local time (18.15 IST | 14.45 CET | 13.45 GMT) with the match being shown live in India on Star Sports 2.