Indian football reaches new heights

It was a game where India dominated and looked dangerous with every move. The slushy ground conditions didn’t help the Turkmenistan cause as it looked like they weren’t ready for it.

The fourth minute saw the first good move when Turkmenistan’s number 11 Dovlotmurad Atayev’s cross was put over the bar by striker Berdy.

Four minutes later, Chhetri’s header into the box was struck by N.P.Pradeep straight into the goalkeeper’s hands.Bhaichung did a quick one-two with Chhetri and was in a one-on-one position when goalkeeper Maksatmyrat came out to prevent the danger.Left winger Krendelev who had a quiet outing suddenly burst into action and sent in a ball which landed for Mekan whose final shot lacked power.

Dovlutmurad’s cross to Krendelev was saved by Subrata Paul two minutes later.India’s best move came in the 30th minute when Renedy Singh’s cross was headed by skipper Bhaichung Bhutia only to be saved by Maksatmyrat. Climax Lawrence hit the rebound and the Turkmenistan custodian made another save.

Seven minutes from half time, Renedy Singh was again in the thick of action when his cross to Pradeep was saved by an alert Maksatmyrat.India started the second half as strongly as the first and were rewarded for the same within the first ten minutes.

Renedy Singh’s cross was headed by the Turkmenistan defender and Chhetri winning the second ball passed to Bhaichung whose final left footer couldn’t be stopped by goalkeeper Maksatmyrat as he slipped to see the ball roll into his net.Coach Bob Houghton decided to rest Steven Dias and give Krishnan Ajayan a run for the final 15 minutes.India and Bhaichung got their second of the evening as the latter headed a Renedy Singh flagkick into the net to leave the Turks stranded in disbelief.The visitors pulled one back in the 85th minute through substitute Yusup Orazhmamedov. Saporov crossed to Chonkayev, who headed the ball into the path of Yusup, who scored.After the goal, India held on to the ball, and saw the ninety minutes out.