INDIA’s HEADS HELD HIGH: Blue Tigers end the drought with a 3-0 header show against Maldives!
After 18 months, India finally earned the much-awaited victory. In the FIFA Friendly against the Maldives, the Blue Tigers secured a dominant 3-0 win tonight at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, with all three goals coming from headers.
In the 16 meetings with the Maldives, India won 14 times, in the previous meeting, India won 3-1. And tonight displayed the exact dominance against the Red Snapper. Rahul Bheke broke the deadlock in the first half, while in the second half, Liston Colaco scored his first long-awaited goal in the blue jersey, and later the Captain, Leader, Legend added his national team comeback goal and sealed the deal.
FIRST HALF SCENARIO:
From the kick-off, the Blue Tigers kept the ball possession and displayed attacking intensity. In the 18th minute, on the right flank, from Naorem Mahesh, Suresh received the ball, cut past his marker, and sent the ball for Brandon, who attempted a shot from the mid-edge of the box, but it went just wide.
In the 24th minute, Liston Colaco earned a freekick on the left. Ibrahim Hussain awarded the freekick after making a challenge on him. Liston took the freekick and unleashed a powerful shot, but it went narrowly wide. In the 35th minute, Rahul Bheke broke the deadlock from Brandon’s corner kick to give the lead to the Blue Tigers before ending the first half, and scored his third national goal.
SECOND HALF SCENARIO:
In the 65th minute, Farukh, who came onto the pitch in place of Brandon in the first half after his injury, made a run from the right, went inside the box, and cut back the ball for Liston Colaco, who attempted a quick shot but the keeper saved it. From that corner, Mahesh delivered a perfect ball from which Liston Colaco took a free header to make it 2-0 for India, scoring his much-awaited first goal after wearing the Blue jersey for four years.
In June 2024, Sunil Chhetri took his international retirement but broke it for his nation’s calling, and after 260 days, he returned and left the field with his own rhythm. In the 76th minute, from an attack, Mahesh from the right side of the box sent the ball, which Liston received on the left side of the box and delivered into the box for Sunil, who sent it into the net.
After becoming the Indian national team head coach, this was Manolo Roca’s first win. The previous matches had passed with no win for the Blue Tigers, while this much-awaited victory will boost their confidence for the upcoming Asian Cup Qualifier match against Bangladesh. Tonight, Ayush Chhetri, Boris Singh, and Abhishek Singh made their debut in the Blue jersey. Manolo Roca used all his substitutes to keep an eye on the best eleven for the upcoming must-win qualifier match.
Both teams have their AFC Asian Cup qualifier matches coming up in just a few days. India will host Bangladesh in their Asian Cup qualifier match on 26 March at JN Stadium, Shillong, while the Maldives will host the Philippines on 25 March, in New Clark City Athletics Stadium.
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