SAFF Championship 2023: India scored two quick goals to clinch an important victory against Nepal

India and Nepal were going toe to toe till halftime. Both the teams were looking for a break but couldn't find any openings. Skipper Sunil Chhetri finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute and scored his 91st goal for India. Mahesh Singh then scored the second goal and his first goal for India in the 70th minute of the game. That one completely broke the hopes for Nepal. India kept it simple in the final moments of the game and got away with a comfortable 2-0 victory at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

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SAFF Championship 2023: India vs Nepal Match Report

The Indian senior men's team booked their spot in the semi-finals of the SAFF Championship 2023 with a 2-0 win over Nepal in Group A at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. With this victory, India extended their unbeaten run on home soil to 12 matches. India lost to Oman but after that, no other international team have been successful to beat them on home soil.

The Blue Tigers were frustrated by the stubborn Nepal defence in the first half. Captain Sunil Chhetri and Naorem Mahesh Singh broke the deadlock for the hosts.

The game started more slowly than expected. India kept and dominated possession in the starting stages and most of their attacks came from the left wing, with Akash Mishra, Naorem Mahesh Singh, and Sahal, who occasionally drifted wide.

Manish Dangi caused India trouble from the right flank. On one such occasion, his low cross was met with a vital interception by Rohit Kumar, allowing the hosts to move forward on the counter-attack. India came out as a completely changed side after the break. The deadlock was finally broken in classic fashion in the 61st minute. Sunil Chhetri scored his 91st international goal with the simplest of touches.

The lead was doubled after a bizarre first India goal for Mahesh. India will take on Kuwait in their last Group A match on Tuesday, June 27, at 7:30 pm IST to determine who top the group.

SAFF Championship 2023: India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 6:33 P.M. | Lineups

Nepal Lineup:

• KIRAN KUMAR LIMBU
• ANANTA TAMANG
• LAKEN LIMBU
• ARIK BISTA
• BIMAL GHARTI MAGAR
• AYUSH GHALAN
• ANJAN BISTA
• DEVENDRA TAMANG
• SANISH SHRESTHA
• MANISH DANGI
• ROHIT CHAND

India Lineup:

• GURPREET SINGH SANDHU
• SUNIL CHHETRI
• RAHUL SHANKAR BHEKE
• AKASH MISHRA
• ANIRUDH THAPA
• MAHESH SINGH NAOREM
• SAHAL ABDUL SAMAD
• UDANTA SINGH KUMAM
• MEHTAB SINGH
• ROHIT KUMAR
• NIKHIL CHANDRASHEKHAR
• POOJARY

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 7:01 P.M. | Injury Update

Ishan Pandita is out of the 2023 SAFF Championship due to an injury. Otherwise, both teams have fully available squads.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 7:11 P.M. | Head To Head Record

Total Matches: 23 Nepal Wins: 2 India Wins: 16 Draws: 5

Another picture-perfect evening for the #BlueTigers 🐯 to show out at the Sree Kanteraava Stadium 🏟️💙🤩

Watch live on @FanCode and DD Bharati 📱📺 #SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #NEPIND ⚔️ #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/npvZYS5MIk

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 24, 2023

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 7:28 P.M.

The players are out of the tunnel. The game is all set to begin

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 1′ | 7:30 P.M. | Kick Off

The Blue Tigers get us underway in this half. 

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 7′ | Early attack

Blue Tigers are showing some good skills on the right flank

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 12′ | India survived

Nepal kept on pressuring and this time Rahul Bheke makes a clearance to deny this counter-attack.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 17′ | First Corner

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 18′ | Nepal kept on creating chances

Blue Tigers need to consolidate their defense to prevent Nepal attackers from creating chances from transition play & counter-attacks.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 22′ | Chance missed

This time Nikhil Poojary shows some creative spark through the left flank and takes a lobbed delivery but his shot goes over the crossbar.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 26′ | Injury

Anjan Bista with a head injury and he needs the medical team's attention.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 32′

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 39′ | India dominating Possession

The Blue Tigers enjoying most of the possession but haven't produced anything interesting yet.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 40′ | Udanta almost opens up for scoring

Udanta provides a brilliant cross from the right wing inside the box but Sahal didn't meet the ball on time.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 44′ | Forced Substitution

Vincento Alberto Annese has to replace Anjan Bista before halftime! Awas Lamichhane comes in to replace him

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 45′ | 4 minutes have been added on

The fourth official indicates four mins of added time.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | 45′ | Last Chance for India in this half 

Udanata sparks some creativity on the right flank and puts in a venomous cross but Sahal wasn't there to make this opportunity to something great.

SAFF Championship 2023: India vs Nepal: Live Blog | Half Time

The referee blows the half-time whistle and it ends goalless here at the Shree Kanterava Stadium, Bangalore. It remained almost equal although India got some chances before the end of the first half.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | Second Half | 46′ | Kick Off

Nepal gets us underway in the second half.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | Second Half | 50′ | Akash Mishra gets fouled by Manish Dangi

Free kick for India.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | Second Half | 55′ | Saved

Anirudh Thapa's corner delivery gets a feasted out clearance by Kiran Kumar Limbu

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | Second Half | 61′ | The offside flag is up

Udanta gets trapped in the offside trap.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | Second Half | 61′ | Goallll!!!!... for India

Sunil Chhetri scores the 91st goal in his career. He was unmarked inside the box and makes no mistake to find the back of the net assisted by Naorem Mahesh.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | Second Half | 68′ | Free-kick for Nepal

Nabin Lama takes charge of the free kick but it straight to the keeper.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | Second Half | 70′ | Second Goallll!!!!... for India

Naorem Mahesh gets his first goal in the national colors !! Sahal manages t realise the ball for Sunil but Naorem taps it inside.

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | Second Half | 84′ | Foul on Rahim Ali 

Laken Limbu pulls the jersey of Rahim Ali and brings him down

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | Second Half | 86′ | Nothing comes out from the flag kick for India

India vs Nepal: Live Blog | Second Half | 90′ | 4 minutes have been added on

The fourth official indicates four mins of added time.

SAFF Championship 2023: India (2) vs Nepal (0): Live Blog | Full Time

The final whistle of the match blows and India bags a 2-0 victory.

"We go out of the tournament with a good performance. I am happy with the way we played. We missed a few chances in the first half, which we should have scored." Nepal coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese.

"India was together since March and I got the team together just one month ago. So, imagine if you have given us three months, what India would have faced tonight. If our players get a chance to play in India in the I-leagues and ISL, our players will surely improve."