Captain Sunil Chhetri discovered the goal but once more as India beat a spirited Nepal 2-0 of their second group match to guide a berth within the SAFF Championship semifinals on Saturday. Chhetri (61st minute) scored his fourth aim of the match earlier than Mahesh Singh (seventieth) struck to notch up the house aspect’s second consecutive win. India had overwhelmed Pakistan 4-0 of their opening match on Wednesday with Chhetri scoring a hat-trick. Chhetri (91 targets from 139 matches) had already turn out to be the second most prolific scorer amongst Asians — after Ali Daei (109 from 148 matches) of Iran — and third amongst lively gamers on the earth. He is essentially the most prolific goal-getter amongst lively Asian gamers.

With six factors from two wins, India certified for the semifinals from Group A together with Kuwait (additionally six factors), who beat Pakistan 4-0 earlier within the day for his or her second victory.

India play Kuwait on June 27 to determine the group winner. Nepal and Pakistan are out of the reckoning for a semifinal spot as they misplaced two matches every.

Before India broke the impasse, they needed to keep off a robust battle from Nepal. India entered the match with giant scale modifications as solely Chhetri, Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad retained their locations within the beginning 11 from the earlier match in opposition to Pakistan.

Nepal ran India shut the entire of first half with a tremendous show of strong defence and fast counterattacks.

The first clear likelihood of the match got here Sahal’s approach however his header from a cross sailed simply large of the aim publish within the twenty first minute.

Nepal may have gone 1-0 up within the match had Bimal Ghatri was a bit faster along with his shot, because it was kicked away by Rohit Kumar near the aim line within the thirty fourth minute.

In the forty first minute, Mahesh Singh, who made a tremendous run down the best flank, jinked a stunning cross to Sahal contained in the field however the latter overran the ball and couldn’t execute a volley.

India confirmed extra urgency and objective within the second half, and the end result got here their approach within the 61st minute.

Sahal and Mahesh engaged themselves in a lighting one-two to evade Nepalese defence earlier than discovering an unmarked Chhetri contained in the field, and the ahead simply needed to beat goalkeeper Kiran Limbu.

The aim energized the Indian gamers and so they continued the seek for one other with Sahal marshalling the midfield brilliantly. The Kerala man together with Mahesh Singh labored the engine room of India within the second half.

The second aim was a tribute to Sahal’s pace and expertise. The midfielder made a bull run by way of the centre and his move discovered Chhetri however his shot deflected off Limbu.

However, Mahesh Singh was proper in place to move the ball into the web within the seventieth minute as India gained a decisive 2-0 lead.

Despite conceding a two-goal lead, Nepal tried gamely to stage a comeback. But India had been in a position to hold the scoreline intact. PTI UNG PDS PDS