2015 SAFF Cup Final: India vs Afghanistan - As it happened...
India played a brilliant game to beat favourites Afghanistan in a tense title match at the Trivandrum International Stadium in Kerala and claimed the SAFF Cup title for a record seventh time. Skipper Sunil Chhetri was the hero of the match, not only for his winning goal, but for a tireless performance. Jeje Lalpekhlua scored the all-important equaliser, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu under the bar was exceptional.
Congratulations to @AiffMedia who are crowned the #SAFFSuzukiCup Champions of 2015! pic.twitter.com/pLq8oMcvMf
— SAFF Suzuki Cup (@SAFFSuzukiCup) January 3, 2016
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has a busy last couple of minutes. Produced a series of saves to give India the title.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Sanju Pradhan on for Bikash Jairu.
Afghanistan's patience seemed to have lost. Another yellow card, to Ahmad Hatifi.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Aibor Khongjee on for Mondal, and as soon as he is on the field, got a booking.
In between, Omid Popalzay had a good header, which was saved by the Indian goalie.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Afghanistan also affected another substitute. Ahmad Hatifie on for Zubayr Amiri.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Arnab Mondal stretchered off. And he has been replaced by another defender.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Rowllin Borges cleared the danger, after some desperate defending. Afghans hit the woodwork in the midst too.
Meanwhile, Afghan coach has been sent off for some furious protesting, against the non-awarding of a penalty. Handballs were called for.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: High boot from Afghan skipper Faysal Shayesteh, which almost knocked off Bikash Jairu. Free kick to India.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Kanischka Taher, unmarked in front of India goal-mouth, produced strong shot. But Gurpreet, as usual, was there.
On the counter, India had another chance to increase the lead.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Goal-kick to Afghanistan after a Sunil Chhetri dribble crossed the byline.
Afghan, then created their chance, only to see Gurpreet climbed high to collect the ball.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Another set-piece for Afghanistan, and once again Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was called into action. Cool and calm.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Pin-point pass by Hassan Amin to danger man Khaibar Amani, inside the Indian box. But, Indian defenders did well to cut short the budding attack.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: India need to hold on another 15 mins or so to win the title for the seventh time.
And a packed house
The attendence for the #SAFFSuzukiCup Final is 40,500! Thank you Trivandrum! pic.twitter.com/trlkyUNAAS
— SAFF Suzuki Cup (@SAFFSuzukiCup) January 3, 2016
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: What a chance for Afghanistan, with Indian defenders out of bound. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu then rushed to save the ball, and in the process collided with Zubayr Amiri, who was grounded.
And that's Half-time.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70', Chhetri 109') 2 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Skipper Sunil Chhetri just did it. From an counter attack, India scored to take lead. Khaibar Amani, who arrived at the start of the ET, had a good attempt, which was saved by Gurpreet. Then, from a long ball, Chhetri found two defenders to beat before slotting home...
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Afghans have managed to create more chances in the extra time. India just defended a well planned attack.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Another good spell for India with Bikash Jairu and Sunil Chhetri at the helm of creative move.
In between, Eugeneson Lyngdoh has been replaced. Pronay Halder on for India.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Earlier, Afghanistan brought in dangerous Khaibar Amani in place of Mustafa Zazai
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Yellow card to Eugeneson Lyngdoh for a foul.
ET - India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: India started with an attack from the right.
FULL TIME | @AiffMedia 1-1 Afghanistan | Extra time coming up! #SAFFSuzukiCup pic.twitter.com/uVeYpijLAM
— SAFF Suzuki Cup (@SAFFSuzukiCup) January 3, 2016
Match into ERTA-TIME.
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: After a series of creative moves from India, Afghanistan had their chance. A close chance, before the whistle.
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: What a cross from Bikash Jairu. And India won a corner. Bad effort from the flag kick, though.
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: In the final regulation time minute. India are probing the Afghan defence.
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Jeje Lalpekhlua indulged himself too much inside the box. He could have release the ball, and Afghanistan won back the ball.
India, in the last five minutes, have increased the tempo. Even Arnab Mondal was involved in the attack.
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Sunil Chhetri, what an attempt. His effort was saved by a diving Ovays Azizi. Corner to India.
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Sunil Chhetri's glide inside the Afghan half ended with a throw-in favour on Afghanistan. Then, from another India move, Holicharan Narzary won a free-kick in a dangerous spot. Yellow card to Hassan Amin, too.
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Afghan substitute. 19-year-old Omid Popalzay on for Norlla Amiri.
In between, Narayan Das, out of nowhere, forced Ovays Azizi to produced a leaping save. Corner to India.
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Zubayr Amiri almost found his second of the day. His effort just missed the far post, with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu's dive also failing to reach the path of the ball.
Jeje's goal
.@jejefanai guides the ball into the back of the net and it's all even in Trivandrum! #SAFFSuzukiCup 1-1 pic.twitter.com/wUPS6OU5Kl
— SAFF Suzuki Cup (@SAFFSuzukiCup) January 3, 2016
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Afghan skipper Faysal Shayesteh on the ground. Medics called on.
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Desperate defending fro, Afghanistan with Sunil Chhetri prowling inside the box.
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: Narayan Das booked for his high elbow.
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: The match has opened up. Afghanistan forced Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to forced a brilliant save, and a corner.
India (Lalpekhlua 70') 1 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: GOAL!!! What a response from India. Within a minute Jeje Lalpekhlua equalised for India. It was nippy run from Holicharan Narzary, who found Sunil Chhetri inside the Afghan box. There, Jeje arrived in just the right moment to slot home.
India 0 - 1 (Amiri 69') Afghanistan: GOAL!!! And from a counter attack, Zubayr Amiri scored, beating Gurpreet Singh Sandhu with precision.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Free-kick to Afghanistan in a dangerous area for India. Three-man wall. Kanischka's delivery forced a play, only to see Gurpreet Singh Sandhu taking the ball in his control.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Indians have become adventurous. A good take in the centre by Jeje allowed India to press ahead, then Bikash Jairu sent in a cross field ball from the left for Sunil Chhetri, but the skipper was well too inside, and the ball found Holicharan Narzary instead. Then, a cross from the right went out of play.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Another brilliant move from India, involving Chhetri and Jeje. Jeje sent in a lofted pass for the skipper inside the Afghan box. Chhetri's header, however, missed the target.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: On the counter attack, Sunil Chhetri had an opening, but he failed to keep the ball in play.
Moments later, Holicharan Narzary won a corner. It could have been the first goal, but the Assam boy's attempt from close range was saved, deflected for corner.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Tricky move from the Afghans, and Holicharan Narzary joined the defence line to clear it away for India.
Then, another move from the Afghan.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: A rather weak attempt from Afghan skipper Faysal Shayesteh. The ball only rolled past the byline, as Gurpreet Singh Sandhu looked on.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: In response, Afghanistan tried another long range attempt and missed.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Jeje Lalpekhlua, for the second time, hit the cross-bar. What a curler. Earlier, Rowllin Borges linked up with Sunil Chhetri, then the skipper found Jeje. Then, the Mizoram player tried a left footed attempt from the left corner of the box, only to hit the cross bar. Brilliant move.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Good reading from Arnab Mondal to cut short Afghan attack on the right left. Then, from the Indian move, Eugeneson Lyngdoh produced a long range attempt. But it failed to hit the target.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: From the set-piece, India won a free-kick thanks to a foul.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Mustafa Zazai took a shot on the goal, only to see Gurpreet Singh Sandhu producing a brilliant save. Corner to Afghanistan.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Mustafa Zazai failed to keep the ball in play. Moments later, Eugeneson Lyngdoh produced a brilliant sliding tackle to won back the possession. It could have gone mighty wrong.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Sunil Chhetri handball inside the Afghan half. The Indian skipper was trying to chest control, but failed in his effort.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Eugeneson Lyngdoh failed to control the ball on the sidelines, in the left flank, from a Narayan Das free-kick.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Opportunistic attempt from Jeje Lalpekhlua. His left footed volley did alarmed the Afgahn defence but it failed to hit the target.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Then, Afghanistan had their move with Augustin Fernandes clearing the ball for India.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: India started with a long ball from the left flank.
Players are back for the second half action.
HALF TIME | @AiffMedia 0-0 Afghanistan #SAFFSuzukiCup pic.twitter.com/s7ItarQdEj
— SAFF Suzuki Cup (@SAFFSuzukiCup) January 3, 2016
And, it's half-time.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Jeje Lalpekhlua forced Afghan goalie Ovays Azizi to produce a well-timed sliding save. The Mizoram player's release was meant for his skipper, and Azizi just cut short the move.
Then, within seconds, India, thanks to Narayan Das long ranger, won a corner. In between, Kanischka Taher got a yellow card for a fault on Eugeneson Lyngdoh.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: For the third time in this half, Narayan Das failed to control the ball. Heavy feet and so thus Eugeneson Lyngdoh's efforts. Half-hearted.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: A long ball found Zubayr Amiri inside the Indian box, but he was well marked. No harm done to India.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Holicharan Narzary managed to control the ball near the far corner, but when he rolled back the ball to Narayan Das, the ball went out of play. Wasted chance.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Faysal Shayesteh's effort from inside the box was saved by Gurpreet.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: India won a controversial throw-in inside the Afghan half on the left flank. Then, briefly, India seemed to have penetrated the Afghan defence, only to see the ball being cleared away.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Smart play from India to counter the face Afgahn wingers. India won a throw-in inside their own half. But the resultant play from the throw-in was won by Afghans. And once again, Mondal's rough play has got into the notice of the referee. Free kick to Afghanistan just outside the box, on the left.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Suddenly, Afghans are feeling the heat. Sunil Chhetri managed to outsmart three defenders inside the Afghan box, but his left footed attempt was saved by the goal-keeper.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Jeje Lalpekhlua booked for elbow. The Japanese referee probably had it wrong here as the Indian forward was only trying to turn his body, when the Afghan player rushed onto him.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Sunil Chhetri is furious. His leap to win the ball in front of Afghan box was adjudged an fault. A high elbow probably.
Moments later Jeje Lalpekhlua took on his double the body size defender Masih Saighani. Wrestling.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Arnab Mondal escaped a certain booking for pulling and tugging Zubayr Amiri while bidding for a long ball. Free-kick to Afghanistan.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: A promising run from the Afghans, involving Abassin Alikhil was flagged off for off-side.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Then, from a long goal-kick, Kanischka Taher tested himself with his own long ranger, which also missed the target.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Norlla Amiri and Zubayr Amiri have managed to control the goods inside the Indian half. From an Indian counter attack, skipper Sunil Chhetri tried a long ranger, must be some 25 yards, but the attempt failed to hit the target.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Then a free-kick near the far corner flag to Afghanistan from an indulgent India committing a late tackle. India, however, did well to repel the attack.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: From an Indian attack, involving a long ranger, Afghanistan got themselves into a counter attack. But an alert Augustin Fernandes thwarted the move, conceding a throw in.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: What a chance for Afghanistan. Norlla Amiri's little placing on the far corner just missed the target. Indian defence was caught napping. It was Afghanistan's best chance so far, in 20 minutes play.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Eugeneson Lyngdoh, in the centre, missed his first ball then, from an Afghan attack, India won back the ball to press once again. Holicharan Narzary failed to control inside the Afghan half, and it's Aghan again , on attack.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Mustafa Hadid, what a pity. Fault throw from the Afghan player.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: A nimble footed Bikash Jairu tried to race inside the Afghan box, but he was out-muscled. Throw in to Afghan.
Moments later, Jeje Lalpekhlua once again test the Afghan defence.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: India just wasted a golden chance. Great move from India from the left with Jeje Lalpekhlua, who dribbled inside the Afghan box before linking up with Holicharan Narzary. But on the third attempt, Bikash Jairu failed to position in a vantage position. Narzary's attempt on the goal was brilliantly saved by Ovays Azizi.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: From the goal-kick, India tried their own attack. But as usual, it failed to create any meaningful move. By the look of things, Afghans have slowly started to control the match. And it's only 14 minutes into the first half.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Throw-in to Afghanistan in the centre, then from a quick throw, Afghan almost got the first goal with Zubayr Amiri's left footed effort saved by a diving Gurpreet.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: India's fleeting move once again failed to create much ripples inside the Afghan half. Holicharan Narzary released for Jeje Lalpekhlua, but an alert defending meant India's effort was vain.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Hassan Amin's delivery from the flag was collected by a jumping Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Then, the first corner of the match to Afghanistan.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu had to dive on his left to save a close range attempt.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Norlla Amiri sent in a teasing cross inside the Indian box, but Augustin Fernandes was alert to cut it off.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Jeje Lalpekhlua tried to link up with Sunil Chhetri in front of Afghanistan box, but failed.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Afghanistan won a free-kick in a dangerous area. A set-piece.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Afghans are taking their time, on the ball, rolling back, involving their inspirational goalie in the build up. Then, Hassan Amin had a good move, then won a throw inside the Indian half.
India 0 - 0 Afghanistan: Good start from India, after the initial press from the Afghans. Bikash Jairu tried a cross-field for his captain, which missed the mark.
India are in their traditional blues, and Afghans are in all reds. And they will start the proceedings, after India won the toss.
And it's national anthem round, first is Afghanistan
The players enter the pitch in Trivandrum! WATCH: https://t.co/E2SPYIzdCF #SAFFSuzukiCup pic.twitter.com/W5LMfBJrsJ
— SAFF Suzuki Cup (@SAFFSuzukiCup) January 3, 2016
These two teams have played in the last two finals too. In 2011, India beat Afghanistan 4-0, then in 2013, Afghan beat India 2-0.
Minutes into the KICK-OFF and it's festive mood in Thiruvananthapuram. A sizeable number of Afghan supporters are making their presence felt.
The surprise from the Afghan camp is the absence of Khaibar Amani from the starting XI. The Germany-based forward is a real joy, and is expected to feature later in the match.
Afghanistan XI: Ovays Azizi (GK); Sayed Mohammad Hashemi, Hassan Amin, Abassin Alikhil, Masih Saighani; Faysal Shayesteh, Norlla Amiri, Kanischka Taher, Mustafa Zazai, Mustafa Hadid; Zubayr Amiri
Team news: India are unchanged from their semi-final win over Maldives.
India XI: Gurpreet Singh (GK); Pritam Kotal, Augustine Fernandes, Arnab Mondal, Narayan Das, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Bikash Jairu, Rowlin Borges, Hollicahran Narzary; Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sunil Chhetri
That's the coveted prize. #IndianFootball #BacktheBlue #SAFFSuzukiCup #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/RrvQ4vEOTI
— Indian Football Team (@AiffMedia) January 3, 2016
SQUADS
India: Subrata Pal, Karanjit Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Aiborlang Khongjee, Arnab Mondal, Augustin Fernandes, Lalchhuan Mawia, Pritam Kotal, Narayan Das; Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Bikash Jairu, Rowllin Borges, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Pronay Halder, Sanju Pradhan; Robin Singh, Sunil Chhetri (Captain), Jeje Lalpekhlua, Holicharan Narzary
Afghanistan: Ovays Azizi, Hamidullah Wakily, Fardeen Kohistani, Mahboobullah Kakar; Hassan Amin, Roholla Iqbalzadeh, Masih Saighani, Anoush Dastgir, Sayed Mohammad Hashemi, Mustafa Hadid, Abdullah Abdalli; Abassin Alikhil, Faysal Shayesteh (Captain), Shabir Isoufi, Norlla Amiri, Mustafa Zazai, Ahmad Hatifi, Omid Popalzay, Kanischka Taher, Omid Homauoni, Rohid Samandary; Zubayr Amiri, Khaibar Amani, Anwar Akbari, Josef Shirdel, Mustafa Afshar, Fardin Hakimi
