Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dhaka: India cruised to the semi-finals of the 2018 SAFF Cup but there was joy despite the 2-0 defeat to the defending champions for Maldives at the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.
India finished as Group B winners but Maldives also advanced to the last four after a coin toss was needed to determine who would be the second team into the last four.
Sri Lanka had also lost to India by the same score on Wednesday and as luck would have it, they missed out on the semi-finals after losing the coin toss.
India will play Pakistan in the semi-finals while Maldives will meet Nepal.
Two first-half goals from Nikhil Poojary and Manvir Singh gave Stephen Constantine’s team victory against Maldives.
“It was a very difficult first half. We didn’t get going in the first 20-25 minutes which is what happened in the previous match as well. We need to start quicker. But we have some really good young players coming through, and we got the goals we deserved. We could have got more goals, but 2-0 is a good result and we’re happy we’re going through to the semi-final," said Constantine.
India have placed their faith in an U-23 squad but going into the semi-finals with a perfect record is sure to motivate the players as they seek to defend the title.
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