Late revival sees India triumph over Pakistan
Courtesy three goals in the second half, India managed to beat Pakistan 3-1 in the 4th AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers (Group-B) match in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
Pakistan took an early lead in the match but conceded three goals in the last 23 minutes to lose the match. India dominated early proceedings and in the fifth minute, a nice exchange of passes between Jagpreet Singh and Steven Dias saw Sunil Chhettri go past his marker but his attempt deflected for a corner.
Zesh Rehman rescued Pakistan when he denied Jeje a clear-cut 10th-minute opportunity and Pakistan players slowed down the game and enjoyed a fair share of possession.
In the 20th minute, Rahim Nabi hit a superb cross from the left but neither Sunil nor Jeje could deflect it into the net.
Pakistan got a chance in the 25th minute amid exchange of passes but Muhammad Adil drove the ball wide of the goal.
Following Pakistan’s goal, India went all out in the quest of an equaliser and wasted two corners but their repeated attacks and substitution earned them the leveller in the 67th minute with young Jeje Lalpekhula, latching onto Sunil’s pass, beat Amir Gul. India pressed hard to take the lead and Steven Dias stunned Pakistan in the 90th minute to make it 2-1 and it was left to Jeje to add another in the fourth minute of injury time.
India, whose 2008 AFC Challenge Cup triumph qualified them for the January’s AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, will guarantee themselves a passage to the final stage of next year’s Challenge Cup if they can avoid a defeat to Turkmenistan in their final Group B match tomorrow.
Palestine, Phillipines draw match
Palestine took a step closer to the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup when they drew 0-0 with the Philippines to remain undefeated after two of their three qualifying Group A matches.
The Palestinians, who reached the quarter-finals of the 2006 edition, came closest to breaking the deadlock with Murad Eleyan, scorer of both goals in his side’s 2-0 win over Bangladesh in their qualification campaign curtain-raiser, hitting the post in the 18th minute.
The Azkals, meanwhile, struggled to get into their stride with their best effort of the match coming in the 64th minute when captain Emelio Caligdong saw his close-range effort blocked before the 28-year-old’s Philippines Air Force teammate Yanti Basrales, a 59th minute substitute for Ian Araneta failed to convert the rebound.
The Philippines, who conceded a stoppage-time
goal to draw 1-1 with Myanmar in their opening match, take on Bangladesh tomorrow while Palestine face a tough finale against the Group A hosts.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2011.
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