Jeje propels India into SAFF Cup final

India came into the match as group-toppers after a scintillating 4-1 victory over Nepal, where youngster Lallianzuala Chhangte shone for the hosts with a brace. Maldives, meanwhile, had won two and lost one to finish second in the other group.

Coach Constantine made three changes to the line-up from the victorious team. Subrata Pal, Aiborlang Khongjee and Sanju Pradhan made way for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Arnab Mondal and Jeje Lalpekhlua.

It was Maldives that made the first mark from a free-kick in the 4th minute. Fasirr Ali took the free-kick that resulted from Ashfaq being brought down by Lyngdoh, but the shot-on-target bounced tamely into the hands of Indian goalie Gurpreet.

India appeared to take the lead in the 11th minute from a wonderful team-effort. Chhetri, who orchestrated a return pass with Augutin, passed the ball over to Arnab Mondal whose left-footed shot raced into the left bottom of the net but only after taking a slight touch off Jeje, who was caught way off-side, resulting in the goal being disallowed.

India again came close to scoring in the 22nd minute. Narzary, who was well-placed in front of the goal for a Lyngdoh corner, flicked the ball in at the near post but was denied by a timely clearance from Maldives.

India, however, did not have to wait long for the breakthrough which came three minutes later. Maldives goalie Imran did well to keep a shot on target from Lyngdoh, but the save fell to Chhetri who managed to only push it across to the other side from an acute angle. However, he was at hand to head the ball in from the cross from the right by Narzary to take India ahead 1-0.

India looked to add more as they kept up the attack and were rewarded again in the 27th minute with a corner. Imran did well diving right to block a low Narayan Das shot but conceded a corner in the act. India failed to convert the resultant corner with some shoddy passing.

The 30th minute saw another chance as Narzary set Kotal down the right flank. Kotal's cross found Chhetri but his volley was kept out by Maldives' defence. The ball fell to Jeje, who managed a left-footed shot, but it was kept out by Imran who seemed to be making a lot of these saves.

India went 2-0 in the 34th minute with a goal off Jeje Lalpekhlua, who had sat out the previous match. Narzary played a looping overhead pass over the Maldives defence. Jeje collected the ball, fended off Maldives defender Shaifu and slotted the ball past an on-rushing Imran.

India received two corners in the 42nd minute, but the hosts failed to convert both. Chhetri's run-in shot off the first corner was deflected wide for a second. Imran came out of the goal to punch away the second corner and thwarted the ensuing attempt with a dive to the right.

Maldives pulled one back finally in injury time through Ahmed Nashid. Imaaz received the ball inside the box before laying it back for Nashid who calmly slotted it past a stranded Gurpreet into the left bottom of the net to make it 1-2 for Maldives, going into half-time.

The second half started with India again hogging the possession. The hosts pressed on but failed to find any meaningful openings in the first 10 minutes, except for a Lyngdoh shot that sailed fairly high above the bar.

India won their 11th corner in the 60th minute but Maldives defence managed to clear it. Narzary won the ball for the hosts at the edge of the box from Imaaz before passing it on to Jeje. But Jeje's powerful strike sailed just above the crossbar.

Jeje made it 3-1 for India in the very next minute. Chhetri passed the ball on to the Chennaiyin forward, who collected it just inside the box, fumbled across one defender, passed the second before slotting it under and to the right of a diving Imran.

Constantine brought in last match's revelation Lallianzuala Chhangte to relieve skipper Sunil Chhetri in the 74th minute in a bid to extend the scoreline.

However, Maldives closed the gap in the next minute scoring off only their second corner. Ali Amdaan met a looping kick at the far end of the post and headed it past Gurpreet to make it 2-3. Sensing a chance, Maldives substituted Imaaz Ahmed to bring in Hamzath Mohamed.

India missed a chance to put the match beyond doubt in the 79th minute. After a brief exchange in the final third of the pitch, Narzary's cross from the left found Augustin undefended close to the goal line, only for him to head it wide.

India then made a mess of a series of chances in the 86 minute when they were given the ball n the box by some poor defending from Maldives. But Chhangte, Jeje and finally Jairu scuffed point-blank chances to let go of the opportunity. The dependable Robin Singh, who had to sit out this match, may have made a difference.

Maldives gave the Blues fans a brief scare in the 89th minute with some good passing around the box but the final shot from Ismail nestled itself tamely in Gurpreet's gloves to bring the run to an end. The visitors again got a sniff at extending the match but Ismail's free-kick from just outside the box went disappointingly wide of goal.

India thwarted a last-ditch attempt from Ashfaq, thanks to Mondals' fine save and finished the match 3-2 to enter the final of the SAFF cup. Coming back on a comfortable victory against Nepal and Sri Lanka, things are looking good for the Indian team 

P.S: Also read - Top 5 moments of Indian football in 2015