India 4-1 Nepal (Final Analysis)
A do or die match for the Nepalese team turned it a big loss for the Gorkhali, who saw the rise of a fantastic prospect.
Nepal needed to win the match to go through semi finals and start the match offensively. In the 3rd minute Nawayug Shrestha received the ball, ran to area and passed the defender he quickly finished and hit the post but Bimal Gharti Magar was there to get the rebound and stun the nets of India.1-0.
India was with a kinda reserve team, full of young prospects; Stephen Constantine's idea is to give them the experience for a brightful future.
In the 26th minute India had a free-kick in the left; It was crossed and after a lapse of concentration of Nepalese defense the Sporting Goa's Rowlin Borges got the ball and with a strong finish passed the GK Kiran Chemjong.
The game was very equal after Indian's equalizing goal and It kept until the final whistle for 1st half.
Nepal came back with Jagjeet Shrestha replacing Bimal Magar and more offensively than before. Nepal was stopped brilliantly twice by experienced Subrata Pal in shots of the young prospect Anjan Bista and the captain Anil Gurung.
Nepal has lost its concentration after not being able to score and with a mistake of defender Jitendra Karki, the India's captain Sunil Chhetri got the ball and with a smart finishing find the down right side of Nepalese goal, at the 67' It was 2-1 for the hosts.
Here it comes a big surprise for the Indian fans and for all those who support the improvement in the SAFF Area: the name is Lallianzuala, Lallianzuala Changte!
The skillful 18 year old player of Liverpool International Academy (SDK Shivajians) based in India was called by Stephen Constantine's good eye and It really worth it to see!
Lallianzuala received the ball, passed through defender and with a fantastic finish found the nets; his second game for India and his first international goal.
In the 90th minute we had more to come, It was again Lallianzuala who received a cross and with a fantastic heading finishing fo through the nets once again! 4-1 for Indians!
Nepalese team were a bit disappointed after not breaking the deadlock in the second half. This made India comfortable to play and secure a very good win with a very good well played match.
Nepal is also a very young team; we all hope they could learn from this tournament and they keep playing and practing in their national league for next challenges.
India is now in the semi finals along side Sri Lanka (India 1st place and Sri Lanka 2nd place) and they wait today's matches to see their opponents in the next phase.
Man of the Match: Lallianzuala Changte (IND)
Goals: Bimal Magar 3' (1-0) Rowlin Borges 26' (1-1) Sunil Chhetri 67' (2-1) Lallianzuala Changte 81' (3-1) 90' (4-1)
Not many of us are aware that an Indian football tournament other the Indian Super League is going on in the month of December. Participated in by teams only from the North-East and cheered by football-crazy fans from the eight states, the North-East Tamchon Football tournament is a pure spectacle.