Dear Colleagues, Please find below the match report and the post-match press conference copy of India's 4-1 win over Macau, leading India to qualification to the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
--- INDIA QUALIFY FOR AFC ASIAN CUP UAE 2019 *AIFF Media Team* *BENGALURU:* The ‘Football revolution continues.’ Amidst the successful hosting of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 where the Indian U-17 National team have won hearts of 1.3 billion people with their stupendous performances, the Senior Indian National team who were already on track for a qualification to the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 felt it best to settle matters on Wednesday (October 11, 2017) itself, that too with two more matches left. Sunil Chhetri led India beat Macau 4-1 to register their fourth successive win in as many matches (Group A) at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru to script India’s 2nd qualification to the AFC Asian Cup in last 8 years, and 4th overall. India had last qualified to the AFC Asian Cup in Doha in 2011. The winners led 1-1 at the interval. The first goal came in the 28th minute. Off a build-up down the left, Rowllin Borges after receiving it from Jeje Lalpekhlua preferred to turn and his right-footer hit rival captain Cheang Cheng and went in. The second goal came as a relief for most of the fans, and it came in the 60 th minute. The triangle of Jeje Lalpekhlua, Balwant Singh and Sunil Chhetri did the trick. Jeje essayed it to Balwant in vacant space who sped past his marker and laid it for Chhetri at the other end to tap it in. The path to the qualification to Asian Cup UAE 2019 became all the broader when in the 70th minute a Halicharan shot deflected off a defender and rolled over the head of Man Fai. Jeje Lalpekhlua added more gloss to the scoreline in added extra time (90+2') to score India's fourth goal and complete mission Macau. On a night where it rained almost all throughout, India pressed the pedal from right from the kick-off. A corner was earned in the first minute itself and thereafter there were a barrage of attacks. In the 20th minute, Lao Pak Kin was yellow carded for pulling Sunil Chhetri off the ball, but Chhetri’s free-kick sailed over. The very next minute, Pritam Kotal’s centre bounced of rival Goalkeeper Ho Man Fai’s hands but he managed to hold on in the second attempt. Borges’ put India in the lead in the 28th minute but it didn’t last long – Nicholas Mario sneaking in between the defenders to head it in nine minutes later. The drizzle had stopped by then and both teams headed to the interval at 1-1. Changing over, Balwant Singh came in for Jackichand Singh. Even as India very much like the first half seized the initiative, it was not until the 55th minute that the Blue Tigers had a shy at the goal. But an acrobatic Ho Man Fai kept off Sandesh Jhingan’s header off a Eugeneson Lyngdoh corner. Chhetri, as he is wont to do, scored his 55th International goal in the 60th minute and two minutes later, Balwant the feeder could have sealed it but his placement just went wide after an onrushing Man Fai had managed to narrow down the angle. Constantine made his second change in the 65th minute – Md Rafique coming in for Borges. The third goal for India came in the 70th minute and with some 20 minutes remaining the fate seemed to have been more or less sealed. The third substitution was made in the 77th minute -- Salam Ranjan Singh replacing Anas Edathodika and making his debut for the Indian National Team in the process. In the 86th minute, Jeje almost gave the Macau defence a scare when he shot at half turn after Sunil Chhetri found him near the box. The shot flew inches wide of the goal as Macau survived to tell the tale. Three minutes later, Balwant Singh put a goal on Jeje's plate but Jeje, a little too eager was caught offside with only the net to find after he rounded off the goalkeeper. However, it was written in the stars for Jeje Lalpekhlua as the Mizo striker found the net in the dying embers of the match, tapping in a Sunil Chhetri pass to make the scoreline read 4-1. The full-time scoreline read 4-1 as India marched onto qualification for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019. *India's starting XI against Macau: *Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK); Pritam Kotal, Anas Edathodika (77' - Salam Ranjan Singh), Sandesh Jhingan, Narayan Das; Jackichand Singh (45' - Balwant Singh), Rowllin Borges (65' - Md. Rafique), Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Halicharan Narzary, Sunil Chhetri (C), Jeje Lalpekhlua ------- *THIS TEAM IS ONE OF THE BEST INDIAN TEAMS IN HISTORY: STEPHEN CONSTANTINE* *By Shoubhik Mukhopadhyay,AIFF Media Team* *BENGALURU:* “We have achieved our target but we should keep our heads down and keep on working hard to finish first in the group,” Captain Sunil Chhetri sounded pretty calm but resolute at the post-match press conference after snatching a 4-1 victory against Macau in the AFC Asian Cup 2019 Qualifiers at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium tonight (October 11, 2017). By virtue of this sublime victory, India confirmed their berth in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019. India are now seated affirm at the top of group A with 12 points from 4 matches ahead of Mauritius, the Kyrgyz Republic and Macau. “Yes, we have achieved our target but the job is far from being done. We want to finish first in the group. Let’s have a good sleep tonight. But we can’t afford to sit and celebrate for long. We have to back to the business pretty soon as we’re playing Myanmar shortly,” Coach Constantine stated. Constantine referred to the victory as a “terrific team effort over anything else.” “We achieved our goal tonight to qualify for Asian Cup. I’m immensely proud of my team. They have followed my manners, my demands. They’ve gone through anything and everything like the tough training regime, rigorous pressure and at the end of the day, they have delivered,” the Coach added. “If not the best, this Indian team is surely one of the best Indian Teams in history and the credit goes to all. Starting from the players to the supporting stuff, it’s the result of everyone’s dedication and hard work. It’s an honour of the entire country but only the team. Right from the clubs, coaches everyone has played their part to see this success. Surely the ride hasn’t been a merrier one, but finally, we have achieved this.” Meanwhile, Sunil Chhetri, who scored his 55th International goal tonight, stated that a lot of work to be done before approaching the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019. “We have to play more games now to get prepared. It’s just the starting of the hard work. More the matches we play, better for ourselves before facing the big fishes of Asia,” he pronounced. Meanwhile, he recalled memories from the AFC Asian Cup 2011 during the post-match press conference. “We had absolutely no idea before going into the competition. That’s why tonight's victory is so sweet. We played Bahrain, South Korea and Australia there. We’re getting the chance again in two years. We have to make it count this time. We have to be well-equipped,” Chhetri sounded confident and determined. Meanwhile, Constantine lavished huge praise on Balwant Singh who got the crucial assist for Sunil’s goal in the second half. “He (Balwant) did exactly what’s been asked. His inclusion was great. After he was introduced, Sunil got the room to play with the ball and everyone knows, if he gets the room, he can be really dangerous.” ----------- Please download pictures from: https://we.tl/naL6kNjLut ----------- Media Department, AIFF. Alternate: me...@the-aiff.com Website: www.the-aiff.com