By IANS
New Delhi : India defeated Bangladesh 1-0 in a closely fought contest in the fourth match of the Nehru Cup International Football Tournament here Monday.
The match was seen more as a battle between India captain Bhaichung Bhutia and former India coach Syed Nayeemuddin, who is now in charge of the Bangladesh team. But it was Bhutia who had the last laugh as his solitary strike as early as in the fifth minute sealed the fate in India’s favour.
But Nayeem, who took over as Bangladesh coach last month, proved that his boys are no flash in the pan. India was lucky to get one goal, but all throughout the match Bangladesh played consistently and gave some anxious moments to the Indian defenders at the Ambedkar Stadium.
Bangladesh midfielders played well and kept on feeding the forwards with some immaculate passes that kept India goalie Subrato Paul busy under the bar. Paul was also adjudged the Man of the Match for his valiant efforts.
India played well in patches and local lad Sunil Chettri came close to scoring on quiet a few occasions but squandered all.
It was a perfect start for hosts India as they drew the first blood in the fifth minute, courtesy Bhutia. An unmarked Bhutia sneaked into the Bangladesh defence and guided in a wayward shot from Steven Dias, who was on the edge of the box.
The game was then closely contested in the midfield and Bangladesh got two close chances, which gave some scare to the Indian defenders. The neighbours came very close to the net in the 27th minute when Jahed Hasan Ameli’s well directed header was thwarted by the Indian goalie.
In the very next minute, Bangladesh got another chance to equalise but Arman Aziz’s shot from the edge of the box missed the net by a whisker. Bangladesh kept on intensifying their attack and their style of play Monday was very different to what they played in their 0-2 loss to Syria.
Bangladesh played defensively against Syria and no one thought that they would come out in an attacking way against India.
The hosts also had a few chances and Bhutia came close to scoring his second goal in the 34th minute after he was fed by a fine pass from Dias. Bhutia was at one-on-one position with Bangladesh custodian Biplab Bhattacharjee who showed some fine skills to thwart the attempt.
After the change of break, India came close to score on quiet a few occasions but Bangladesh’s defenders were rock solid. Chettri squandered few chances and had a clear opportunity in the 64th minute after he made a solo run into the Bangladesh box and unleashed his powerful left-footer which was fisted out well by the Bangladesh goalie.
Mehrajuddin Wadoo, who replaced N.P. Pradeep in the starting line-up, got a rebound after the ball as fisted but his shot went way pass the net.
Two minutes later, Clifford Miranda, who came in as a replacement for Renedy Singh in the 57th minute, showed some flashes of brilliance with some deft passes and had a good chance when his powerful left-footer hit the horizontal. The ball rebounded after hitting the bar and N.S. Manju chipped it but an airborne Bhattachrjee ensured that the chance went begging.
The worst news for India was that defender Deepak Mindal had to be replaced within six minutes of the half time after he suffered a knee injury. The defender had to be carried out of the field and will be kept under observation for next 24 hours.
Teams:
India: Subroto Paul (goalkeeper), Surkumar Singh, Mahesh Gawli, Deepak Mondal (Syed Rahim Nabi, 51st), N.S. Manju, Steven Dias, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Climax Lawrence, Renedy Singh (Clifford Miranda, 57th), Sunil Chettri, Bhaichung Bhutia (Tarif Ahmed, 85th)
Bangladesh: Biplab Bhattacharjee (goalkeeper), Mohammed Ariful Islam, Rajani Kanta Barman, Mohammed Waly Faisal, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Mohammed Zahid Hossain (Mohammed Alfaz Ahmed, 68th), Mohammed Abul Hussain, Arman Aziz (S.M. Rajib, 78th), Firoz Mahmud Hossain, Mohammed Jahid Hasan Ameli, Mohammed Robin (Mehedi Hassan, 77th)
Referee: Sikhrakar Surendra (Nepal)