Kathmandu, Sep 5: Farukh Choudhary and skipper Sunil Chhetri struck in the second half to guide India to a 2-1 win over Nepal in their second International friendly here on Sunday.
It was Choudhary who put India ahead in the 62nd minute while Chhetri (80th) doubled the lead of the visitors.
Tej Tamang (87th minute) found the net for the hosts in dying minutes of the match at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.
India began the first half well, with Bipin Singh penetrating through the left flank on a number of occasions.
In the sixth minute, he played in a looping ball for an onrushing Manvir Singh whose header was saved by goalkeeper Kiran Limbu.
Anirudh Thapa entered the penalty area from the right in the 29th minute, and fizzed in a low cross with Chhetri waiting at the back post, only for Ananta Tamang to save with a sliding tackle.
After the break, India created threats from both flanks. Head coach Igor Stimac brought on Choudhary to replace Bipin at the break and it was the substitute who broke the deadlock with a calm finish in the 62nd minute.
Chinglensana swung in a curling cross from the left, which Chhetri laid perfectly into the path of an unmarked Choudhary, who placed it past the keeper and into the corner of the net.
Chhteri doubled India’s lead advantage with a trademark finish – polishing off a fantastic counterattack.
Amrinder collected and played the ball to Thapa on the halfway line, who headed it on for a charging Chhetri.
The Indian skipper calmly approached the goal and sent Kiran the wrong way, before slotting the ball home to make it 2-0.
The home team pulled one back in the 87th minute through Tej Tamang, who powered home a venomous shot from 30 yards. (PTI)
