Mumbai: Robin Singh and Balwant Singh scored on either side of the break as India came back from an early goal to script a 2-1 win over Mauritius in the Tri-nation international friendly series clash held at the Mumbai Football Arena on Saturday.
The game kicked off with a slight drizzle with Sandesh Jhingan leading the Indian side with a 4-4-2 formation against the underdogs Mauritius who were playing 4-2-3-1.
The away team started the off better with some rhythm and flair and deservedly took the lead in the 14th minute. Indian defence could not cope with Joseph Stephan Kevin's cross which met midfielder Jean Mervyn Jocelyn who found the back of the net with a shot that took a wicked deflection off Anas Edathodika leaving keeper Subrata Pal clueless.
The Mauritians were on top of the game after the early opener dominating the midfield with swift passing with the home team getting one real chance which was headed wide by Jhingan.
But all that changed midway through the first half when Robin found the equlaiser with crisp finish past keeper Kevin Obrian Jean-Louis from an acute angle. It was a lob pass from Rowllin Borges that set up the goal allowing the striker to run into space and fire in with his left foot.
After the goal, the home side looked more confident going into half time.
As the game resumed, Indian coach Stephen Constantine made three changes bringing on Amrinder Singh, Balwant Singh and Nikhil Chandrashekhar in place of Subrata Pal, Robin Singh and Jackichand Singh respectively.
The home team kept creating chances and it was substitute Balwant Singh who found the winner when he ran behind the defence and slotted home in the 62nd minute despite the goalkeeper getting a touch on the strike. The goal came after an acrobatic assist from JeJe Lalpekhlua.
