Mumbai: Sandesh Jhingan and Jeje Lalpekhlua's second half goals gave India a 2-0 win over inexperienced Nepal in the International friendly football match at Mumbai Football Arena here on Tuesday.
Jhingan unleashed his left footed half volley into the back of the net to break the goal deadlock in the 60th minute. The Punjab defender acted as the face saver as Indian strikers had a poor day at office in terms of finishing until Jeje got one right in the 78th minute after impressive Mohammed Rafique pitched in a perfect cross from the right.
It served as preparatory game for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers for both the sub-continent teams slated on June 13.
A confident Indian team with six wins behind them, attacked from the outset and striker Robin Singh had two chances in first ten minutes but he couldn't capitalise on it.
In absence of Sunil Chhetri, Holicharan Nazary did the job from the left midfield initially but he couldn't combine with Robin. Nepal started to control the ball in the midfield. They had couple of ambitious shots on the goal without testing skipper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu much.
Robin was again at the thick of action on the counter managing a wayward header on Jackichand Singh's calculated cross from the right.
Head coach Stephen Constantine introduced Eugeneson Lyngdoh to replace Rowlin Borges inside half an hour. Lyngdoh started to make things happen but poor finishing from Robin ensured the score-line remained 0-0.
There was a poor turnout for the match, considering the last game here India versus Puerto Rico was a full house. But the crowd as usual was vocal in support for the home team. Due to rains here in last couple of days, players slipped occassionally in damp areas making their task difficult.
Nepal had hardly looked threatening but towards the end of the first half their forwards showed more purpose. Anjan Bista came up with a scorcher to force a good save from Sandhu and later Nawayug Shrestha had a lob at empty goal but it went out after Sandhu was drawn forward.
As the second half got underway, Robin and Jackichand were replaced by Daniel Lalhimpuia and Bikash Jairu. But it was Nepal who had first go at goal when Sujal Shrestha's powerful tap required a full stretch save from lanky Sandhu.
After surviving a scare, Indian forwards started combining well and reached close but Jairu's powerful shot was well kept out by Nepal goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu.
India kept pressing hard and it brought result as Jhingan got one past Limbu. Trailing a goal Nepal were reduced to ten-man after skipper Biraj Maharjan was given marching orders after committing a foul on Jairu to concede free-kick at the edge of the box which was blocked by the wall.
Constantine kept substituting players to test them ahead of Kyrgystan game. It was always hard for ten-man Nepal to defy India further and Jeje cashed on the opportunity.
