Jeje Lalpekhlua in action against the Maldives in their SAFF Cup semi-final in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. India won 3-2. — Peethambaran Payyeri
Jeje Lalpekhlua in action against the Maldives in their SAFF Cup semi-final in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. India won 3-2. — Peethambaran Payyeri
Jeje Lalpekhlua scored twice as India overcame their final minute nervousness to defeat the Maldives 3-2 and enter the final of the SAFF Cup football tournament at the Greenfield Stadium here on Thursday.
Jeje scored in both the halves while captain Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring in a match largely dominated by the hosts. However, the Maldives were able to pull back two goals and make the Indian defence sweat in the final quarter of the match.
In the final, India will face holders Afghanistan who thrashed Sri Lanka 5-0 in the other semi-final.
Sayed Mohammed Hash-emi, Kanischeka Taher, Khaibar Amani, Ahmed Arash Hatifie and skipper Faysal Shayesteh scored to complete the rout.
Earlier, defensive vulnerabilities of the islanders were evident throughout. Eugeneson Lyngdoh was prolific in the middle while the strike trio of Chhetri, Lalpekhulua and Halicharan Narzary in Stephen Constantine’s 4-3-3 formation befuddled the packed Maldivian defence with their interplay and fluent moves.
Captain Chhetri played an important role, releasing his teammates often and finding enough gaps to test the Maldivian custodian Mohammed Imran.
India looked dangerous early on. In the 11th minute, Arnab Mondal was able to send the ball past goalkeeper but the goal was ruled offside as it took a deflection off Narzary.
The home forwards troubled the Maldives often but were also wasteful when it came to finishing. After a couple of corners and attempts on goal, Narzary gathered the ball from the right side of the box to cross it to an unmarked Chhetri and the captain send in a nice header to the right corner of the net to claim the lead.
Ten minutes later, Narzary was able to pick Jeje with a sublime pass and the forward, who came in for injured Robin Singh, beat a fluffed Maldivian defensive line to shoot low past Imran.
While it seemed India finish with a two-goal cushion in the first half, the Maldives forwards Ashfaq Ali, Imaaz Ahmed and Nashid Ahmed combined well in the box to strike back in the injury time, exploiting a brief time of complacency by the Indian defenders.
But Jeje again helped India to maintain the lead with his second goal. Assuming an easy victory, Constantine subbed Chhetri in the 74th minute but his tactics hit back as the Maldives controlled the rest of the match. Amdhan Ali scored from a header two minutes after the India captain was subbed for previous match hero Lallianzuala Chhangte.
