New Delhi: India showed nerves of steel to overcome Cameroon 5-4 in a penalty shootout and retain the Nehru Cup as coach Wim Koevermans’ first assignment in the hot seat ended in glory, on Sunday.
The match went into the tie-breaker after the two teams were locked 2-2 at the end of 120 minutes of play.
Gouramangi Singh (19th minute) and Sunil Chhetri (77th) scored for India in regulation time, while Makkon Thierry (29th) and Kingue Mpondo (54th) found the net for Cameroon.
In the tiebreaker, Robin Singh, skipper Chhetri, Denzil Franco and Mehtab Hosain struck to ensure that India managed a clean slate.
Taking the final shot, Makkon hit the post to leave Cameroon shattered, and the Indians jubilant.
“It was an incredible victory. Obviously, we had to straighten a few things at the half time and it was an incredible fight by the boys,” a visibly happy Koevermans told the reporters at the post match conference
History repeated itself as the two-time champions, like in the last edition in 2009, defended the crown in a shootout.
Earlier, India opened the match on the offensive and that urgency prompted coach Koevermans to leave his chair in the dugout and shout instructions to his wards from the sidelines.
The Dutchman’s words seemed to motivate the Indians enough as Gouramangi Singh headed in a Clifford Miranda free-kick from the right in the 19th minute, beating what seemed like an offisde trap, which left the vociferous Sunday turnout jubilant.
It was Chhetri who had earned the free-kick after being felled by Moundi Gustave. Nabi too was inside the box but it was Gouramangi who scored.
Cameroon suffered a minor blow when their regular goalkeeper had to leave the post due to an injury, handing over the duty to Nkessi Hosea.
In search of an equaliser, Cameroon upped the tempo, and they were rewarded when Makkon’s crisp volley off Abouna Jean Patrick’s cross that deflected off Pradhan’s head, found the back of the net after beating an outstretched Subrata Paul to his right in the 29th minute.
The in-form combination of Makkon and Kologny Merime were always expected to pose problems to the Indians and they did exactly that, rattling the hosts with their darting runs and enterprise upfront.
After an intense first half, the hosts were on the game straightaway, but Cameroon’s back-four this time did not allow Gouramangi a free header on their goal.
It was, however, heartbreak for India when Mpondo unleashed a header that was all about power in the 54th minute.
The Indians were disappointed, the fans shocked. Chhetri failed to turn chances into a goal until he earned a penalty after being tripped by substitute goalkeeper Hosea.
The striker converted without any trouble, leaving the crowd in state of frenzy.
“Certainly this one stands out as we beat a side like Cameroon. We played as a unit. I am extremely proud of the boys,” Chhetri said. after describing this match as the best of the three finals. (PTI)