With a capacity crowed watching in utter disbelief, India mutilated Tajikistan 4-1, in the AFC Challenge Cup final at Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on 13th August’08. Three of the goals were scored within merely 23 minutes from the start of the football match, which ensured a berth for India in the final rounds of the Asian Cup in Doha in 2011, something that eluded them for last 24 years.
The star of the day was Sunil Chhetri, whose loan goal propelled India into the Final of this tournament beating Myanmar 1-0. The Delhi boy was even more fearsome and deadly in his home ground netting the ball thrice.
Taking full advantage of a surcharged atmosphere made by a vociferous crowd wildly cheering the home team, India was up 3-0 in 23 minutes in a show of unbelievable performance in the international arena.
Of the four goals scored, the one by the Indian skipper Baichung Bhutia, 32, was a gem of a goal. A floater from left flank was about to land on the top of the box in front of him, when he leaped in the air and volleyed the ball fiercely into the net stunning the spectators for a few seconds.
The first goal was of course hotly challenged by Tajikistan as the assistant referee disallowed the Chhetri’s flick in the net off the rebound from Tajik goalkeeper. The Uzbek referee however allowed the goal overruling the offside flagging by his assistant.
To prove that the first goal was not a fluke, Indians rampaged the Tajik penalty box repeatedly and went on a scoring spree till a goal from Tajikistan, a minute before breather made it 3-1.
However Tajikistan improved considerably after the break but failed to convert even once because of starling performance from the Indian goalkeeper Subrata Paul, who made amazing saves to see India through.
Indian Captain Baichung Bhutia was adjudged as the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the tournament.
This was India’s second title triumph in one year. This win was incidentally the 14th in 26 matches India played under the coaching of Bob Houghton with only three losses and 9 draws. All India Football Federation President Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi praised the coach giving him full credit for the win along with the players.
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