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India enters semifinals

Abhijit Sen Gupta

— PHOTO: P. V. SIVAKUMAR

TOUGH Measures: India’s Sunil Chetri tries to retrieve the ball from Turkmenistan’s Hojaahmedov Bhatiyar in the AFC Challenge Cup in Hyderabad on Sunday.

HYDERABAD: India defeated Turkmenistan 2-1 to enter the semifinals of the AFC Challenge Cup football tournament here on Sunday. Again India’s saviour was skipper Baichung Bhutia who scored both the goals.

The incessant rains over the last few days had made the ground extremely slushy and slippery. Players found it very difficult to keep their balance and slipped frequently.

But the Indian players adjusted to the conditions better than their rivals and managed to mount pressure on the Turkmenistan goal.

Tough time

The Turkmenistan goalkeeper Maskat Shamuradov had a difficult time but he did his best. On numerous occasions there was a scramble for the ball inside the Turkmenistan box but the goalie hurling himself from one side to another, kept the ball out of the goal.

But after change of ends the Turkmenistan goalkeeper’s luck ran out. The citadel fell in the 54th minute when Chetri passed to Bhutia, who positioned in the centre just outside the box.

The Indian captain’s shot, though not powerful, rolled into the goal as the goalkeeper slipped in the mud and failed to prevent the ball from entering the net.

Bhutia scored again in the 80th minute. This time it was a simple move as he headed home a corner to make it 2-0.

Turkmenistan pulled one back in the 84th minute when Yusup Orazmamedov and a defender both went after a loose ball lobbed forward from the midfield.

Yusup reached the ball first but then fell and slid along the ground. However he stuck out his foot and managed to roll the ball into the net.

Hat-trick by Rabiev

In the other match, Tajikistan defeated Afghanistan 4-0 thanks to a hat-trick by Yusuf Rabiev. The other goal was scored by Tukhtasunov.

Coach delighted

India’s chief coach Bob Houghton is delighted at the “fantastic performance of the entire team” after the host defeated Turkmenistan.

“It is a huge relief and also gives me great satisfaction that everyone worked hard. This victory is one which I can savour with each member of the team,” said a visibly pleased Houghton. “I was particularly impressed with the way forwards Chetri and Bhutia kept attacking even in the final minutes,” he added.

Monday’s matches: DPR Korea vs Myanmar (LBS), Nepal vs Sri Lanka (Gachibowli), 6.30 p.m.

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