New Delhi: Dutchman Wim Koevermans’ stint as the coach of the Indian football team started on a positive note as Portugal-returned skipper Sunil Chhetri and Anthony Pereira’s strikes propelled the hosts to a 2-1 win over Syria in the Nehru Cup opener here on Wednesday.
Chhetri’s neat header found the net just at the stroke of half time to put the defending champions ahead, after rain forced a brief 15-minute suspension at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Pereira struck in the 84th minute with a rasping left-footer from the top of the box to put it beyond Syria.
Experienced Clifford Miranda did the spadework for the team’s first goal, fooling Syrian defender Jehad Albour, and Chhetri ensured that the Goan’s accurate cross did not go waste.
It was then the turn of Dempo winger Pereira to show his class as he slotted one past Syrian custodian Ahmed Alsalih after being on the pitch for just 14 minutes.
Alaa Alshbbli reduced the margin with a 90th minute strike but that came a bit too late.
Fresh from his nearly one-month pre-season training stint at Sporting Lisbon, Chhetri once again showed why he is rated as the country’s most dangerous striker, when he flummoxed the Syrian defence by positioning himself at the right place, and at the right time.
“I am pleased with the performance of our players and proud of my boys. They did really well, they were very active today. Whenever they got opportunities they threatened. The game was influenced by water,” Koevermans told reporters after the match.
“There were a few good moves, passes in the first 25-30 minutes. We are going to improve with every game. There were a few things in the first half we need to improve,” he added. (PTI)
