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SAFF Semi-Final: Afghanistan 1-0 Nepal

Written by Vishal Patel in , , , ,


SAFF Semi-Final: Afghanistan 1-0 Nepal

Skipper Balal Arezo scores magic extra-time goal to sink Nepalese bravehearts in an exciting semifinal. It’s an Afghanistan vs India final!
SAFF Semi-Final: Afghanistan 1-0 Nepal

Balal Arezo scripted a fairy-tale finish as Afghanistan qualified for the SAFF Championship final for the first time in the history of the south Asian tournament. A classic 100th minute strike by the 22-year-old attacking mid-fielder sank Nepal in an exciting semifinal played under lights at Delhi’s Nehru Stadium on Friday. Afghanistan play India in the final on Sunday.

The victory saw the emotional side of a nation that is ravaged by war and the recent killings by a suicide bomber in a Kabul shrine doing no better. The win sent the team delirious with joy as players sank to their knees and kissed the pitch as hundreds of Afghan fans went wild in the stands.

Arezo made amends for his lapses earlier in the game that had everything but a goal. The teams were locked 0-0 after regulation time and the decisive goal was a piece of work that will make any international striker proud.

Arezo, who plays professional soccer for Norwegian team Asker, sprinted 60 yards and left in his wake a bunch of defenders in a telling run from the Nepal mid-field. He found the target with a rasping left-footer at the far post. It was truly a classic finish.

The match ended with a flurry of cards with Nepali defender Braj Maharjan seeing red for a cynical challenge at a time when every second was crucial. Nepal ran out of ideas towards the closing stages, their lack of experience surfacing against an Afghan team that held its nerves when it mattered most.

However, it was Nepal that went in with a definite game plan. Their British coach Graham Roberts had obviously noticed the difference in the physique of his players and the tall and sturdy Afghans. Nepal thus tried to unsettle the Afghans with long-range volleys mixed with quick passes in the attacking third.

The Nepalese strategy worked quite well as Afghanistan had their backs to the wall for at least the first 20 minutes of the game. Nepal’s attacking ploy was backed by some vociferous support from the stands and for the first time in this tournament, the adrenaline among the fans from both nations was running high. The atmosphere was truly what a pacy game of soccer produces, effervescent.

Nepal’s aggressive designs were led by Jumanu Rai, whose right footer fully stretched the Afghan goalie Hameedullah in the seventh minute. The Afghan goal had a close call in the 17th minute when Rohit Chand and Santhosh Khala combined to almost score from a goalmouth skirmish.

Fancied Afghanistan, who scored a dozen goals in three group games, found their feet late in the first half, but squandered two golden chances, once being denied by the crosspiece. Arezo missed a sitter in the 35th minute and then his header in the 44th minute, came off the bar.

After the break, Afghanistan had more territorial advantage but the Nepal goal never came under any real threat. Only in the 77th minute, Sandjar Ahmadi came close to scoring but the Nepal goalie Kiran Kumar Limbu was in the right position. Nepal attacked on the break but their imagination ran out in the scoring zone. The tall Afghan defenders easily blunted any Nepali offensive.

With full time nearing, Nepal added three fresh legs, but the goals never came.

Teams
AFGHANISTAN: Hameedullah Yousufzari, Ata Mohammad Yamrali (Ahmed Arash Hatifle, 81st), Balal Arezo, Djelaludin Shahriyar, Faisal Safa, Haroon Fakhruddin, Masaiullah M Ibrahim (Waheed Ahmad, 46th), Mohammad Esrafil, M Yousef Mashriqi, Moqadar Faizullah, Sanjdar Ahmadi (Hashmat Jan, 117th).
NEPAL: Kiran Kumar Limbu, Biraj Maharjan, Bikash Singh Chetri, Santhosh Shahu Khala (Anil Gurung 70th), Jumanu Rai, Sandip Rai, Raju Tamang, Bhola Nath Silwal (Bijay Gurung, 81st), Sagar Thapa, Bharat Khawas (Nirajan Khadka, 89th), Rohit Chand.
REFEREE: Masoud Tufaylieh (Syria)

Maldives Brought A Good Match But India Takes It

Written by Vishal Patel in , , , , ,



Head-to-head India and the Maldives have a 9-4 record, with two matches ending in a draw. But the Maldives have emerged as a force to reckon with in South Asia and have troubled India in the last few years.
The Maldives beat five-time champions India in the 2008 final in Colombo for their maiden SAFF Cup title. In the last edition in Dhaka, the Maldives beat India 2-0 in a league match but faltered in the final, which India won 3-1 via penalties. In July, the two teams drew 1-1 in an international friendly in Male.
There isn't much that separates the two team in the current tournament. The Maldives started with two draws against Nepal and Pakistan before a 3-1 win over Bangladesh.
India had to fight out a 1-1 draw against Afghanistan but improved as the tournament progressed. The 5-0 thrashing of Bhutan and the 3-0 win against Sri Lanka have only boosted their confidence, which took a beating after their come-from-behind draw against Afghanistan.
Indian strikers Sunil Chettri and Jeje Lalapeklua have also found the much needed rhythm. They struck in tandem against Sri Lanka and Chettri is the second highest scorer in the tournament with four goals, one behind Afghanistan's Belal Arezou.
But the mid-field has been inconsistent and is a concern for India coach Savio Medeira. Right-winger Clifford Miranda and wing-back Syed Rahim Nabi have failed to work in sync.
The Maldives' fast-paced game may also put the Indian defence in trouble. The Indians were slow against Afghanistan, who have emerged as a strong contender for the title. The Afghans face Nepal in the second semifinal.
Medeira, who was assistant to interim coach Armando Colaco during the 1-1 draw in Male, said the present team is better than the team that played in July.
"I think this team is much better than the one we last played. This is a different lot, much better organised and playing much better," the Goan said.
Asked whether he has any plans to stop Maldives's captain and striker Ali Ashfaq, Medeira said: "It's not just about Ali Ashfaq though he can get the game out of the opponent at any time. As a team, they are not bad and I respect the opponents and never underestimate them."
Medeira was also happy that his experienced defender Sameer Naik was available for the match. The Dempo player missed the last two matches with an ankle injury.
"Sameer is fit and his availability gives us more options," he said.
Medeira said that team that commits less mistakes will win the title.
"No team is favourite from here on. The team that commits less mistakes will win the title," he said.
Maldives captain Ashfaq said he is looking forward to the game. "We don't want to look back in history. But I have played against the Indians and I know their game. I am ready for it," he said.
Source: IANS

BHUTAN VS INDIA MATCH REPORT SAFF CUP 2011

Written by Vishal Patel in , , , , , , , ,

 5-0









GOALS:
29' SAYED NABI
44' CLIFFORD MIRANDA
58' CLIFFORD MIRANDA
69' SUNIL CHHETRI
84' SUNIL CHHETRI




India’s last encounter with Bhutan in SAFF Cup came in the semi-final stage of 2008 edition. Bhutan had surprised everyone by reaching the last-4 and they took a shock lead on 18th minute through Kinly Dorjee. India fought back with a goal from Sunil Chhetri at the half-hour mark. The match remained dead locked in normal time. In extra-time a late, late Gourmangi Singh strike ensured India reached final. The hosts are under a lot of pressure after an abject display in the first match and will be looking to claim their first win in this year’s SAFF Cup.



 Defending champions India toyed with Bhutan, beating them 5-0 with a brace each from striker Sunil Chettri and midfielder Clifford Miranda in their second Group A match of the SAFF Cup football tournament at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Monday.


India could have won by a huge margin but had three goals, all from Syed Rahim Nabi, within 27 minutes disallowed due to off-side. When sense finally prevailed, Nabi gave India the lead in the 30th minute, heading in a perfect corner-kick from Miranda.


Miranda, who missed sitters during India's hard-fought 1-1 draw with Afghanistan, hit back at his critics with a dominating performance against the lowest ranked team in the tournament. The Dempo mid-fielder struck in the 44th and the 58th minutes, besides assisting Nabi and Sunil Chettri (69th, 84th) in adding up to the tally.


India were in a must-win situation in the match and coach Savio Medeira made two changes to the starting line-up with Sameer Naik and Steven Dias making way for Nirmal Chettri and Anthony Pereira.


The hosts completely dominated the match, but it was hard to impress Indians' newly appointed technical director Robert Bann, who was earlier employed with the Socceroos in a similar position.


The 198th ranked Bhutan, comprising mostly under-19 players, suffered a 0-3 thrashing in their opening game against Sri Lanka and Monday night they had a similar fate in store.


India were on the attacking mode right from the word go and in the eighth minute Chettri's header missed the mark off Miranda's header.


India made the optimum use of the flanks and Nabi flourished in his new role on the left. The East Bengal player shifted gears cleverly and was on target thrice within a gap of 11 minutes but all his efforts were wasted as he was found off-side.


India finally scored in the 30th minute as Nabi's well-timed header went past Bhutanese goalkeeper Mon Bhattrai off Miranda's flag-kick.


Miranda doubled the lead in the 44th minute after being set up by a pinpoint pass from Chettri and slotted it past the goalkeeper as India went into the break with a 2-0 lead.


Chettri came close to score his first goal within two minutes after start but he couldn't connect timely to Miranda's cross. Miranda got his second goal in the 58th minute with a spectacular right-footer from Chettri's pass.


Chettri finally found the target in the 69th minute as he latched on to a Miranda cross from the left and side-footed into the net. The Mohun Bagan striker completed his brace six minutes from the final whistle as he dribbled past three defender and shot past the Bhutan goalkeeper.


Teams:


Bhutan: Mon Bdr Bhattrai; Sanjay Khandu, Nawang Dendup, Sonam Tenzin (Karma Tshering, 71), Nim Sangay (Yeshi Samdrup, 61); Pema Rinchen, Thinley Dorji, Man Bahadur Gurung, Tshering Droji; Checho Gyeltshen, Jigme Tshering Dorjee


India: Karanjit Singh; Mahesh Gawli, Nirmal Chettri, Gouramangi Singh, Rocus Lamare; Anthony Pereira, Climax Lawrence (Jewel Raja Sheikh, 65), Clifford Miranda (Lalrindika Ralte, 76), Syed Nabi, Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpelua (Joaquim Abranches, 62)


Referee: Sukhbir Singh (Malaysia)







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KOLKATA TO GET TASTE OF RONALDO,CAFU AND PELE

Written by Vishal Patel in , , , , ,


In our repot on 5 november 2011 we told you Ronaldo and Cafu might visit India. And Now its out. Read the article down:


The city of joy Kolkata continues to witness football stars of the world. In a series of dates with big names in world football, the latest additions are going to be the likes of Cafu, Ronaldo (Brazil),Samuel Eto’o, Paolo Maldini and many more.The match has got IFA and AIFF approval and the official announcement for the same will be done via a press conference in Kolkata. Baichung Bhutia, Shyam Thapa and Ruud Gullit willbe present in the conference alongwith the organizers..It is scheduled to be played on 15th of January 2012 in Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata. The event organisers are the JPR Events group who will also organise another such match in Nepal.Sources said the organizers are trying to rope in Brazilian great pele as a guest for the event. The world team: Regi Blinker, Cafu (C), Ronaldo, Marcel Desailly, Paolo Maldini, Angsker Birkman, Winston Bogarde, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Samuel Eto'o, Stephen Appiah, Christian Karembeu, Roland Kopp, Ronald de Boer, Rene Higuita (GK), Marcel Oerlemans. Coach: Rudd Gulit. India Dream Team: Baichung Bhutia (C), Renedy Singh, Sushil Kumar Singh, IM Vijayan, Jo- Paul Ancheri, Bruno Coutinho, Dino Morea, Ashmit Patel. Coach: Shyam Thapa.


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Showing posts with label saltlakestadium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saltlakestadium. Show all posts

Friday

SAFF Semi-Final: Afghanistan 1-0 Nepal

Posted by Vishal Patel

SAFF Semi-Final: Afghanistan 1-0 Nepal

Skipper Balal Arezo scores magic extra-time goal to sink Nepalese bravehearts in an exciting semifinal. It’s an Afghanistan vs India final!
SAFF Semi-Final: Afghanistan 1-0 Nepal

Balal Arezo scripted a fairy-tale finish as Afghanistan qualified for the SAFF Championship final for the first time in the history of the south Asian tournament. A classic 100th minute strike by the 22-year-old attacking mid-fielder sank Nepal in an exciting semifinal played under lights at Delhi’s Nehru Stadium on Friday. Afghanistan play India in the final on Sunday.

The victory saw the emotional side of a nation that is ravaged by war and the recent killings by a suicide bomber in a Kabul shrine doing no better. The win sent the team delirious with joy as players sank to their knees and kissed the pitch as hundreds of Afghan fans went wild in the stands.

Arezo made amends for his lapses earlier in the game that had everything but a goal. The teams were locked 0-0 after regulation time and the decisive goal was a piece of work that will make any international striker proud.

Arezo, who plays professional soccer for Norwegian team Asker, sprinted 60 yards and left in his wake a bunch of defenders in a telling run from the Nepal mid-field. He found the target with a rasping left-footer at the far post. It was truly a classic finish.

The match ended with a flurry of cards with Nepali defender Braj Maharjan seeing red for a cynical challenge at a time when every second was crucial. Nepal ran out of ideas towards the closing stages, their lack of experience surfacing against an Afghan team that held its nerves when it mattered most.

However, it was Nepal that went in with a definite game plan. Their British coach Graham Roberts had obviously noticed the difference in the physique of his players and the tall and sturdy Afghans. Nepal thus tried to unsettle the Afghans with long-range volleys mixed with quick passes in the attacking third.

The Nepalese strategy worked quite well as Afghanistan had their backs to the wall for at least the first 20 minutes of the game. Nepal’s attacking ploy was backed by some vociferous support from the stands and for the first time in this tournament, the adrenaline among the fans from both nations was running high. The atmosphere was truly what a pacy game of soccer produces, effervescent.

Nepal’s aggressive designs were led by Jumanu Rai, whose right footer fully stretched the Afghan goalie Hameedullah in the seventh minute. The Afghan goal had a close call in the 17th minute when Rohit Chand and Santhosh Khala combined to almost score from a goalmouth skirmish.

Fancied Afghanistan, who scored a dozen goals in three group games, found their feet late in the first half, but squandered two golden chances, once being denied by the crosspiece. Arezo missed a sitter in the 35th minute and then his header in the 44th minute, came off the bar.

After the break, Afghanistan had more territorial advantage but the Nepal goal never came under any real threat. Only in the 77th minute, Sandjar Ahmadi came close to scoring but the Nepal goalie Kiran Kumar Limbu was in the right position. Nepal attacked on the break but their imagination ran out in the scoring zone. The tall Afghan defenders easily blunted any Nepali offensive.

With full time nearing, Nepal added three fresh legs, but the goals never came.

Teams
AFGHANISTAN: Hameedullah Yousufzari, Ata Mohammad Yamrali (Ahmed Arash Hatifle, 81st), Balal Arezo, Djelaludin Shahriyar, Faisal Safa, Haroon Fakhruddin, Masaiullah M Ibrahim (Waheed Ahmad, 46th), Mohammad Esrafil, M Yousef Mashriqi, Moqadar Faizullah, Sanjdar Ahmadi (Hashmat Jan, 117th).
NEPAL: Kiran Kumar Limbu, Biraj Maharjan, Bikash Singh Chetri, Santhosh Shahu Khala (Anil Gurung 70th), Jumanu Rai, Sandip Rai, Raju Tamang, Bhola Nath Silwal (Bijay Gurung, 81st), Sagar Thapa, Bharat Khawas (Nirajan Khadka, 89th), Rohit Chand.
REFEREE: Masoud Tufaylieh (Syria)
at 12/09/2011 0 comments

Maldives Brought A Good Match But India Takes It

Posted by Vishal Patel


Head-to-head India and the Maldives have a 9-4 record, with two matches ending in a draw. But the Maldives have emerged as a force to reckon with in South Asia and have troubled India in the last few years.
The Maldives beat five-time champions India in the 2008 final in Colombo for their maiden SAFF Cup title. In the last edition in Dhaka, the Maldives beat India 2-0 in a league match but faltered in the final, which India won 3-1 via penalties. In July, the two teams drew 1-1 in an international friendly in Male.
There isn't much that separates the two team in the current tournament. The Maldives started with two draws against Nepal and Pakistan before a 3-1 win over Bangladesh.
India had to fight out a 1-1 draw against Afghanistan but improved as the tournament progressed. The 5-0 thrashing of Bhutan and the 3-0 win against Sri Lanka have only boosted their confidence, which took a beating after their come-from-behind draw against Afghanistan.
Indian strikers Sunil Chettri and Jeje Lalapeklua have also found the much needed rhythm. They struck in tandem against Sri Lanka and Chettri is the second highest scorer in the tournament with four goals, one behind Afghanistan's Belal Arezou.
But the mid-field has been inconsistent and is a concern for India coach Savio Medeira. Right-winger Clifford Miranda and wing-back Syed Rahim Nabi have failed to work in sync.
The Maldives' fast-paced game may also put the Indian defence in trouble. The Indians were slow against Afghanistan, who have emerged as a strong contender for the title. The Afghans face Nepal in the second semifinal.
Medeira, who was assistant to interim coach Armando Colaco during the 1-1 draw in Male, said the present team is better than the team that played in July.
"I think this team is much better than the one we last played. This is a different lot, much better organised and playing much better," the Goan said.
Asked whether he has any plans to stop Maldives's captain and striker Ali Ashfaq, Medeira said: "It's not just about Ali Ashfaq though he can get the game out of the opponent at any time. As a team, they are not bad and I respect the opponents and never underestimate them."
Medeira was also happy that his experienced defender Sameer Naik was available for the match. The Dempo player missed the last two matches with an ankle injury.
"Sameer is fit and his availability gives us more options," he said.
Medeira said that team that commits less mistakes will win the title.
"No team is favourite from here on. The team that commits less mistakes will win the title," he said.
Maldives captain Ashfaq said he is looking forward to the game. "We don't want to look back in history. But I have played against the Indians and I know their game. I am ready for it," he said.
Source: IANS
at 12/09/2011 0 comments

Monday

BHUTAN VS INDIA MATCH REPORT SAFF CUP 2011

Posted by Vishal Patel
 5-0









GOALS:
29' SAYED NABI
44' CLIFFORD MIRANDA
58' CLIFFORD MIRANDA
69' SUNIL CHHETRI
84' SUNIL CHHETRI




India’s last encounter with Bhutan in SAFF Cup came in the semi-final stage of 2008 edition. Bhutan had surprised everyone by reaching the last-4 and they took a shock lead on 18th minute through Kinly Dorjee. India fought back with a goal from Sunil Chhetri at the half-hour mark. The match remained dead locked in normal time. In extra-time a late, late Gourmangi Singh strike ensured India reached final. The hosts are under a lot of pressure after an abject display in the first match and will be looking to claim their first win in this year’s SAFF Cup.



 Defending champions India toyed with Bhutan, beating them 5-0 with a brace each from striker Sunil Chettri and midfielder Clifford Miranda in their second Group A match of the SAFF Cup football tournament at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Monday.


India could have won by a huge margin but had three goals, all from Syed Rahim Nabi, within 27 minutes disallowed due to off-side. When sense finally prevailed, Nabi gave India the lead in the 30th minute, heading in a perfect corner-kick from Miranda.


Miranda, who missed sitters during India's hard-fought 1-1 draw with Afghanistan, hit back at his critics with a dominating performance against the lowest ranked team in the tournament. The Dempo mid-fielder struck in the 44th and the 58th minutes, besides assisting Nabi and Sunil Chettri (69th, 84th) in adding up to the tally.


India were in a must-win situation in the match and coach Savio Medeira made two changes to the starting line-up with Sameer Naik and Steven Dias making way for Nirmal Chettri and Anthony Pereira.


The hosts completely dominated the match, but it was hard to impress Indians' newly appointed technical director Robert Bann, who was earlier employed with the Socceroos in a similar position.


The 198th ranked Bhutan, comprising mostly under-19 players, suffered a 0-3 thrashing in their opening game against Sri Lanka and Monday night they had a similar fate in store.


India were on the attacking mode right from the word go and in the eighth minute Chettri's header missed the mark off Miranda's header.


India made the optimum use of the flanks and Nabi flourished in his new role on the left. The East Bengal player shifted gears cleverly and was on target thrice within a gap of 11 minutes but all his efforts were wasted as he was found off-side.


India finally scored in the 30th minute as Nabi's well-timed header went past Bhutanese goalkeeper Mon Bhattrai off Miranda's flag-kick.


Miranda doubled the lead in the 44th minute after being set up by a pinpoint pass from Chettri and slotted it past the goalkeeper as India went into the break with a 2-0 lead.


Chettri came close to score his first goal within two minutes after start but he couldn't connect timely to Miranda's cross. Miranda got his second goal in the 58th minute with a spectacular right-footer from Chettri's pass.


Chettri finally found the target in the 69th minute as he latched on to a Miranda cross from the left and side-footed into the net. The Mohun Bagan striker completed his brace six minutes from the final whistle as he dribbled past three defender and shot past the Bhutan goalkeeper.


Teams:


Bhutan: Mon Bdr Bhattrai; Sanjay Khandu, Nawang Dendup, Sonam Tenzin (Karma Tshering, 71), Nim Sangay (Yeshi Samdrup, 61); Pema Rinchen, Thinley Dorji, Man Bahadur Gurung, Tshering Droji; Checho Gyeltshen, Jigme Tshering Dorjee


India: Karanjit Singh; Mahesh Gawli, Nirmal Chettri, Gouramangi Singh, Rocus Lamare; Anthony Pereira, Climax Lawrence (Jewel Raja Sheikh, 65), Clifford Miranda (Lalrindika Ralte, 76), Syed Nabi, Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpelua (Joaquim Abranches, 62)


Referee: Sukhbir Singh (Malaysia)







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at 12/05/2011

Saturday

KOLKATA TO GET TASTE OF RONALDO,CAFU AND PELE

Posted by Vishal Patel

In our repot on 5 november 2011 we told you Ronaldo and Cafu might visit India. And Now its out. Read the article down:


The city of joy Kolkata continues to witness football stars of the world. In a series of dates with big names in world football, the latest additions are going to be the likes of Cafu, Ronaldo (Brazil),Samuel Eto’o, Paolo Maldini and many more.The match has got IFA and AIFF approval and the official announcement for the same will be done via a press conference in Kolkata. Baichung Bhutia, Shyam Thapa and Ruud Gullit willbe present in the conference alongwith the organizers..It is scheduled to be played on 15th of January 2012 in Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata. The event organisers are the JPR Events group who will also organise another such match in Nepal.Sources said the organizers are trying to rope in Brazilian great pele as a guest for the event. The world team: Regi Blinker, Cafu (C), Ronaldo, Marcel Desailly, Paolo Maldini, Angsker Birkman, Winston Bogarde, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Samuel Eto'o, Stephen Appiah, Christian Karembeu, Roland Kopp, Ronald de Boer, Rene Higuita (GK), Marcel Oerlemans. Coach: Rudd Gulit. India Dream Team: Baichung Bhutia (C), Renedy Singh, Sushil Kumar Singh, IM Vijayan, Jo- Paul Ancheri, Bruno Coutinho, Dino Morea, Ashmit Patel. Coach: Shyam Thapa.


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at 12/03/2011
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