Football
SAFF Cup 2021: India vs Nepal Match Preview: Live Scores, Line-ups, updates, and more
The Indian football team take on Nepal in a must win game to stay in contest for the SAFF Cup. It a do or die situation for the Blue Tigers.
Their pride hurt, the streak of the Indian Football Team stay silent yet desperate to get back to a winning streak in the ongoing SAFF Championship. There's not much of an option either – simply because there are two matches left in the group stage, and both are must-win ones if India are to make the final.
"Nothing much has changed," Head Coach Igor Stimac maintained in the official pre-match press conference. "We are here, and we are still alive in the Championship. We are still here to win the tournament," he added.
Interestingly, the two teams had played two back-to-back International Friendlies in Kathmandu in the first week of September where India had won the second match 2-1, after having drawn the first.
"We know them very well and have played twice against them. It's an open game and if we play well, and do it right on the pitch, I am sure that we can win the game. There is no other option for us than to go out there and win it," Stimac stated.
Nepal are leading the points table at the moment on 6 points having won both their matches against Maldives and Sri Lanka. "They may have a different approach. They may calculate while playing against us. But we are not worried about them. We will go out to do our job from the first minute itself," the coach added.
The Blue Tigers had their practice session in the morning earlier today (October 9), and the news from the camp is that there are no injury concerns with all 23 players available for selection.
Midfielder Brandon Fernandes insisted that the team has "everything to play for."
Speaking at the official pre-match press conference, Brandon quipped: "We have had two disappointing results so far. Understandably, the mood was dull in the camp. But tomorrow we have everything to fight for. We are positive, and have prepared well for this game. Everyone is focussed in winning the match."
The match kick-offs today at 9:30pm and The Bridge's coverage begins of the match at 9:00pm. Keep following this space for more.
Live Updates
- 10 Oct 2021 4:27 PM GMT
25' CHANCE!
A grounded cross from Yasir intended towards Chhetri intercepted and collected by Limbu!
- 10 Oct 2021 4:25 PM GMT
23' CHANCE FOR INDIA!
Brandon tries a shot from distance, but the ball goes off target by quite some distance not troubling the goalkeeper!
- 10 Oct 2021 4:21 PM GMT
20' NEP 0-0 IND
20 minutes gone and the scores are still tied! India enjoiying the most of the possession. Nepal just sitting back and trying to pounce upon counter attacks!
- 10 Oct 2021 4:19 PM GMT
18' CHANCE!
Shot from Chhetri saved by goalkeeper Limbu. India earn themselves a corner.
- 10 Oct 2021 4:12 PM GMT
11' CHANCE!
Yasir crosses it towards Chhetri from the left but safely collected by the Nepalese goalkeeper!