Indo-Asian News Service
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 25: Robin Singh’s post break brace enabled a dominant India to begin their South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup campaign with a 2-0 win against Sri Lanka here, Friday. Robin broke the deadlock on 51 minutes and then extended the advantage 22 minutes later.
Sri Lanka who beat Nepal 1-0 in the opening game of the tournament here Wednesday, were evidently inferior against the home side at the Trivandrum International Stadium.
Coach Stephen Constantine opted for a cautious 5-4-1 formation against a team ranked 28 places behind them, naming Robin the lone striker. He pegged back forward Jeje Lalpekhlua to the midfield and winger Sanju Pradhan as a right back.
But it didn’t stifle India’s initial attacks, which primarily arose from the right flank where Sanju pushed up confidently whenever, he had the opportunity.
The hosts steadily increased their supremacy on the ball with predominance on crosses from the right wing. One such cross found an unmarked Sunil Chhetri. But his header from an acute angle was blocked out by goalkeeper Sujan Perera in the fifth minute.
But the first realistic chance was created in the 10th minute by India’s ‘Player of the Year’ Eugeneson Lyngdoh whose intelligent overhead ball exposed a big gap between the two Sri Lankan central defenders and Perera. However, Jeje’s scoop over the custodian went wide.
The much-yearned goal arrived six minutes after the resumption of play. Chhetri got the better of two defenders to run to the left byline and then cut back the ball to an unmarked Robin who banged a prompt left-footer in from six yards.
The ascendancy of India’s offensive play shifted to the left after the break. Chhetri drifted to the flank constantly to create space to run into that paved the way for the crucial goal. The hosts doubled the lead when Robin beat two defenders with his speed and placed the ball to the right of an advancing Sujan.
“It was a good start,” coach Stephen Constantine said after the match. “But we have the ability to put up a better show and we certainly will in the next game.”