SAFF Championship – Afghanistan Clinch Maiden SAFF Championship

Afghanistan registers first SAFF championship final victory after two back to back final entrance.

The team which came back only in 2002 in international football made sure they capitalize their final place entrance to claim the SAFF championship for the first time.

Afghanistan took early lead in the game as Mustafa Hadid cut open the Indian defense to deliver the ball to Balal Arezou who controls the ball in opposition box before making a final pass to Mustafa Azadzoy whose final shot from as near from keeper Subrata Paul finds the net.

India fought back despite of the early goal, they made some great moves to find the equalizer soon after they conceded. Je Je’s 23^rd minute effort from left side of the flank found unmarked Robin Singh whose left footed half volley from 20 yards went wide off the near post.

Afghanistan goalkeeper who denied Rohit Chand twice in penalty in semifinal to confirm their final berth was adjudged most valuable player of the tournament after displayed great performance to deny Indian attacks as well. His 34^th minute save on Mehtab Hossain’s shot denied India another chance and the ball dropped to Je Je whose shot was saved in a goal line by Faiz to deny India another goal scoring opportunity in the first half and the defending champions were compelled to end up trailing at the end of the first half.

India started well in the second half beginning in attacking note. The 60^th minute miss was the easiest of chance Robin Singh would have ever got as he missed on a chip which opponent keeper Fagiryar advances forward to block .

Afghanistan doubled the lead when Arezou’s saved shot fell on Sanjar Ahmadi who chipped it over Subratu who got hand on the ball which eventually went away from Gouramangi and found the net.

Sunil Chhetri made terrific trajectory shot from his toe which found the crossbar to deny India a chance to decrease the deficit to come back in the game. His another attempt came in 74^th minute when he controlled a long ball from Lenny to hit over the target.

Afghanistan came near to third goal but Mohammed Jan missed in an opportunity where he got the shot over the cross bar from 5 yards as he was obstructed by opponent defenders but the two goals margin was enough to confirm Afghanistan’s maiden SAFF Championship title.