India win 2015 SAFF Championship title

India battled to a 2-1 win over Afghanistan after extra time to win the 2015 SAFF Championship final at the Trivandrum International Stadium in Kerala today.

The defending champions opened the scoring through Zubayr Amiri (70') before Jeje Lalpekhlua (72') dragged the hosts level. Sunil Chhetri (101') then settled the tie in extra time.

Stephen Constantine has named an unchanged line-up from the team which downed Maldives 3-2 in the semis. Petr Segrt made two changes as Zubayr Amiri and Mustafa Zazai are included in the first eleven as they replace Omid Popalzay and top scorer Khaibar Amani.

The first chance came in the 11th minute when Faysal Shayesteh’s shot from inside the box saw Gurpreet being tested.

Three minutes later, India created the best chance of the half. Jeje does well under pressure from two Afghanistan players to keep the ball and play it for Narzary. The former Pailan Arrows striker’s cross took a deflection off Norlla Amiri and Ovays Azizi was forced into a reaction save. Off the rebound, Jeje’s header came off the crossbar.

Midway into the first half, Jeje played it for Narzary whose cross into the box was headed away before Jairu could get on the end of it.

Afghanistan won a number of free-kicks but Kanischka Taher’s deliveries were far from being accurate. After the half hour mark, Lyngdoh played a ball for Chhetri who chested it down and his left footed shot was blocked by Masih Saighani.

Jeje and Chhetri combined before the latter played the latter through on goal but Azizi was alert to come off his line and collect in time.

Narayan Das’ shot from range in injury time was parried away by the Afghanistan goalkeeper to keep the score-line 0-0 at half-time.