Defending champions India started their Saff Championship campaign with a 1-0 win over their rivals Pakistan at the Dasarath Stadium, Kathmandu yesterday.
Pakistan skipper Samar Ishaq’s own goal in the 14thminute made all the difference as Pakistan’s improved performance ended in a disastrous note. India took time to settle and created chances, but poor finishing saw them win the match by the goal scored by their opponents.
Five players in the Pakistan squad play outside the country as opposed to none from India. Defender Zesh Rahman is now with Hong Kong’s Kitchee FC having played for Fulham earlier. All the others are based in Europe. Goalie Yousuf Butt, defender Yakub Butt and striker Hasan Bashir play in Denmark and midfielder Adnan Ahmed, who’s had a stint with Manchester United colts, plays non-league football in England.
India took the lead with the favour of the lady luck after midfielder Francisco Fernandez ‘s chip found Sunil Chettry unmarked in the middle of the box. Pakistan skipper Samar Ishaq, defender Kamran Khan and golie Yousuf Butt all rushed ahead and was stunned to see the ball deflect off Ishaq’s feet to cross the goal line.
Pakistan put tremendous pressure in search of the equaliser and it was orchestrated by their speedy right winger Mohammad Adil. Adil created havoc in the right flank and crafted three scoring opportunities that were scrambled down by the forwards. In the 23rd minute Adil ran down his favourite valley and cut the ball back to forward Md Riaz whose cracking drive sailed over the crosspiece.
In the 35minute the tall forward Hasan Bashir was made free by Adil again, but much to the dismay of the Pakistan tent the ball bounced back from the side post.
Pakistan again came close to a strike in the 44th minute and the architect was none other than Adil. His cutback was picked by Riaz who however placed the ball directly into the lap of diving Indian goalie Subrata Paul.
Frustration and consuming too much energy put a negative impact on the Pakistani players as the Indians slowly took charge. In the 51st minute forward Jeje Lalphekula’s curved free kick found midfielder Mehtab Hossain in the middle of the box but his glancing header missed the side post by a whisker.
Pakistan’s last effort came in the hour mark from Adil with a superb footwork, but his hard effort ended useless as Riaz again placed the ball straight to Paul.Sunil Chettry squandered two scoring chances in the 75and 80th minute.