Beat Myanmar 1-0 in front of 21,000 fans but Chhetri disappoints
IMPHAL: Manipur locals turned up in numbers for their first date with international football. However, the goals were in short supply though as India managed a hard-fought 1-0 win over Myanmar in the Tri-Nation tournament opener at Khuman Lampak Stadium here on Wednesday.
After a gorgeous opening ceremony, Mehtab Singh and second-half substitute and homeboy Naorem Mahesh Singh made their international debut. Igor Stimac also named Manipuris Chinglensana Singh, Jeakson Singh and Bipin Singh in the starting XI and gave Suresh Singh Wangjam a chance in the second half.
However, it was left to the young Anirudh Thapa, who had a good outing in the midfield, to decide the match in the 45th minute. Myanmar Ye Min failed to clear a Rahul Bheke cross and a lurking Thapa made no mistake in firing home. India began just as Stimac had stated in the pre-match interaction on Tuesday, "attacking from the very first minute".
Both Bipin Singh and Lallianzuala Chhangte were brilliant in the wings, with the former created India's first chance from the left wing after getting a long ball from Mehtab in the 10th minute. His pass to Thapa in the box was perfect but Sunil Chhetri headed the cross from the Chennaiyin midfielder wide.
Chhetri's cry for a penalty went a begging just moments later when he was brought down in the box by Myanmar centre-back Ye Min. Chhangte and Thapa's one-two inside the box led to another chance for India in the 22nd minute but in vain.
The remainder of the first half saw some uncharacteristic misses from the India skipper - the only player from last week's ISL final named in the starting XI. While Chhetri failed to convert a cross from Akash Mishra in the 30th minute, the 38-year-old sent a disappointing shot in the hands of Myanmar custodian Sann Sat Naing after a Chhangte run and cross two minutes later.
