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Bangladesh choke India celebrate their third

SAFF trophy with 2-0 win

AL MUSABBIR SADI from Karachi
India dethroned Bangladesh to regain the SAFF football title after six years with a 2-0 win in the final of the Fourth SAFF Championship at the People's Sports Complex Stadium here yesterday.
Midfielder Mehraj Uddin, the most impressive player of the final and captain Baichung Bhutia, the player of the final and the tournament, struck either side of the break to end Bangladesh's superb run in the eight-team meet before a capacity crowd.
Taking the third SAFF trophy
home came as sweet revenge for India after losing the 2003 SAFF semifinal to Bangladesh who went on to win the title at home beating Maldives on penalties.
Bangladesh simply failed to carry on their form and style that took them to the grand finale and break the final-jinx against India, who have now won all four finals against their neighbours in regional tournaments.
The coach's manual to hold the ball and play on grass was forgotten and unnecessarily, they were sending long passes to reach the
Bangladesh choke
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strikers. In the end, they were chasing shadows as India, with a tidy performance, outplayed their opponents in the midfield throughout the 90 minutes.
During the first ten minutes, when Bangladesh looked tentative, Baichung taunted the rival defence with his speed and moves but found no support.
Alfaz saw his 18-yard drive come off a defensive wall after being set up by Hassan Al Mamun in the 12th minute and Bangladesh, who lost too many midfield tackles, invaded the Indian area on counter attacks without creating any real chance.
India threatened to score in the 27th minute when Baichung, under strict marking, flicked a Venkatesh freekick to the right side of the Bangladesh box but Climax Lawrence's low drive harmlessly ran acrossAminul's goal.
Six minutes later, a crossfield chip by Alvito from the right unsettled the Bangladesh backline when Ajayan headed the ball to Baichung near the penalty spot. But Mehraj, who missed the semifinal after being sent off during the Bangladesh-India group match, scored with a scorching right-footer into the right top corner of Aminul's post after winning a partly cleared ball just outside the penalty area.
Like it or lump it, India never looked back after scoring the first goal and they could have won by even bigger margin had their forwards not missed a few sitters against a panic-stricken Bangladesh defence.
It was only fitting for India to see their inspirational captain Baichung killed the game with nine minutes remaining on the clock when he stabbed a low cross into the near post after substitute Abdul Hakkim won a tackle against Hassan Al Mamun and sent the ball near the goalmouth.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shawkat Aziz witnessed the final and gave away prizes among the winners.
Bhutan won the Fair Play Trophy.
Yellow cards: Gawli, Suresh (India).
TEAMS
INDIA: Sandip, Surkumar, Suresh, Gawli, Manju (Hakkim, 50th minute), Mehraj, Venkatesh, Climax, Ajayan, Rahim Nabi and Baichung.
BANGLADESH: Aminul, Hassan Al Mamun, Sujan, Rajani, Titu (Emily, 84th), Arman (Abul, 61st) Joy, Munna, Alfaz, Kanchan and Farhad (Ujjal, 89th).
Referee: Ashfarian Khodadad (Iran).