SAFF Championship: India claim title for seventh time
Hosts come from behind to defeat Afghanistan 2-1 in final
PHOTO: FILE
Hosts India came from behind to win 2-1 against defending champions Afghanistan at the Trivandrum International Stadium in Kerala, India to be crowned champions for the seventh time in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship on Sunday.
Afghanistan coach Petr Segrt had made two changes — replacing Omid Popalzay and tournament top-scorer Khaibar Amani with Zubayr Amiri and Mustafa Zazai — to the side which humiliated Sri Lanka 5-0 in the semi-final, and the decision backfired as the visitors gave up a short-lived one-goal lead to lose in the final.
SAFF Championship: We won’t change for Maldives, says Segrt
Both teams had failed to find a goal past each other despite various chances until midfielder Amiri opened the scoring in the 70th minute. However, the visitors’ joy lasted only two minutes as Jeje Lalpekhlua found the equaliser after a communication lapse between Afghanistan defender Mohammad Hashemi and goalkeeper Ovays Azizi.
The game moved into extra time following the inability of both sides to find the winner and it was not until the 101st minute that Sunil Chhetri gave the hosts the lead after Hashemi allowed the India skipper a lot of time and space to finish inside the box.
SAFF Championship: Pakistan will be missed, say India officials
India managed to hold on to the lead and when the referee blew the final whistle, the home crowd erupted with jubilation.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2016.
Afghanistan coach Petr Segrt had made two changes — replacing Omid Popalzay and tournament top-scorer Khaibar Amani with Zubayr Amiri and Mustafa Zazai — to the side which humiliated Sri Lanka 5-0 in the semi-final, and the decision backfired as the visitors gave up a short-lived one-goal lead to lose in the final.
SAFF Championship: We won’t change for Maldives, says Segrt
Both teams had failed to find a goal past each other despite various chances until midfielder Amiri opened the scoring in the 70th minute. However, the visitors’ joy lasted only two minutes as Jeje Lalpekhlua found the equaliser after a communication lapse between Afghanistan defender Mohammad Hashemi and goalkeeper Ovays Azizi.
The game moved into extra time following the inability of both sides to find the winner and it was not until the 101st minute that Sunil Chhetri gave the hosts the lead after Hashemi allowed the India skipper a lot of time and space to finish inside the box.
SAFF Championship: Pakistan will be missed, say India officials
India managed to hold on to the lead and when the referee blew the final whistle, the home crowd erupted with jubilation.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2016.