India vs Nepal Football Highlights, SAFF Championship 2023: India beat Nepal 2-0 to enter semis

Hosts India secured their spot in the semi-finals of the SAFF Championship by defeating Nepal 2-0 in a thrilling encounter in their second group match. Captain Sunil Chhetri continued his impressive form, scoring his fourth goal of the tournament, while Mahesh Singh sealed the victory with a crucial goal. India had previously crushed Pakistan 4-0 in their opening match, with Chhetri scoring a hat-trick. With six points from two victories, India secured a semi-final berth from Group A alongside Kuwait, who also earned six points by defeating Pakistan 4-0 earlier in the day. The final group match between India and Kuwait on June 27 will determine the group winner.

India will play Kuwait on Tuesday in their final group game. Both teams are through to the semis. The result of the Tuesday game will decide the final standings in the points table.

India through to the semis

FT - India beat Nepal 2-0 for their second successive win in the tournament

Hosts India are through to the semi-finals after registering back-to-back victories in the tournament. Another clean sheet for India. India and Kuwait are in the last four from Group A, with the final group match between the two will decide the final standings. India are second in the table at the moment on goal-difference. Goal No. 91 from skipper Sunil Chhetri and another from Noarem Mahesh Singh was enough for the hosts to get the better of Nepal today.

92' - India coach Igor Stimac, who is watching the match from the stands, must be happy with the team's performance so far, especially the second half.

90' - 4 minutes added as stoppage time

89' - Final two minutes of the regulation time. India are in for their second successive win in the tournament.

85' - MISSED! Jeakson Singh shoots it just wide of the Nepal goal from the centre of the box.

84' - India still on the attack looking for more goals. They now have five shots on target from 13 attempts. Good attacking second half for the hosts.

82' - SUBSTITUTION! Change for India: Rahim Ali replaces Sahal Samad

80' - Sunil Chhetri protests for a foul against him outside the Nepal box. The ref is not convinced, says to carry on.

79' - A rare Nepal move into the India box. But good defending from India.

76' - Jeakson Singh heads it straight to Nepal keeper Kiran after jumping high to connect the delivery from Anirugh Thapa from the corner.

75' - SAVE! Nepal keeper Kiran makes a good save to deny Chhangte from a close range. Corner for India.

70' - GOAL!!! Mahesh Singh makes it 2-0 for India

This time Mahesh Singh Naorem put his name in the scoresheet with a simple head in from the goalmouth. Sunil Chhetri got the ball inside the box and went for his second goal, but it was saved by a diving goalkeeper. The ball ricochet from the crossbar and Mahesh jumped high to put the ball into the Nepal net.

69' - Good period for India in terms of shots on goal. They now have 8 shots on goal with one on target.

68' - SUBSTITUTION! Double change for Nepal this time

64' - A brawl between the players after an incident. Match on the halt. Incidentally no bookings for the scuffle from the ref.

64' - SUBSTITUTION! Double change for India

61' - GOAL!!! Sunil Chhetri scores to give India a 1-0 lead

Goal No. 91 for Sunil Chhetri as he put India in the lead with a simple tap-in. Another good move for India from the left flank, with Mahesh Singh finding Chhetri just outside the six-yard box. A simple goal for India's goal-machine.

59' - Udanta hits a Nepal defender from the top of the box. Good move from India, but they are yet to register a shot on target.

55' - Mahesh goes for a long-ranger from the left side of the Nepal box, and it goes well wide of the goal.

53' - Anirudh Thapa's delivery is punched out to safety by the Nepal keeper. Ref whistles for a foul against the keeper, and it's a free-kick for Nepal inside the box.

53' - Corner for India

51' - Nepal's Rohit gets injured while going for a tackle to deny Udanta a ball on the right flank near the Nepal box. Rohit looks okay to continue, good clearance from the defender.

48' - Nepal with the first attack into the India box in the second half. No clear chance to shoot though. Tamang shoots it well over the crossbar with a long-ranger from 25 yards out.

Second half gets underway...No half-time changes for both the teams

Welcome Back! Players are in the middle to start the second half

'0-0'

HT - It's 0-0 between India and Nepal at the half-time break

No goals in the first half of the contest in Bengaluru. India enjoyed 65% possession, but managed only three shots on goal with none on target. Nepal had the best chance of the game so far, when Anjan Bista's attempt from the top of the box was saved by a diving India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the 17th minute. Nepal registered a shot on target from three shots on goal. A relatively slow action in the final third on both sides in the first 45 minutes of action.

48' - Anirudh Thapa's delivery from the corner is calmly collected by the Nepal keeper.

47' - First corner for India in the game

45' - 4 minutes added as stoppage time

44' - SUBSTITUTION! Change for Nepal: No. 17 Awas replaces injured Anjan Bista

42' - Nepal's Anjan Bista is again on the ground with some issues. He walks off the playing area as the game resumes.

40' - After a long delay due to injury to Nepal's Anjan Bista, the proceedings start again.

37' - Just three shots on goal each so far for both the teams. Nepal have one on target, whereas India are yet to register the crucial stat.

36' - Dangi's long-range attempt hits the side-netting of India's goal.

35' - No goals yet in Bengaluru. It's 0-0 between India and Nepal

32' - Sunil Chhetri's delivery from the free-kick into the six-yard box is headed out to safety.

31' - Sahal is brought down just outside the Nepal box on the left flank. Free-kick for India from a dangerous position.

28' - Another India move from the left flank. It ends with a foul on a Nepal player. Free-kick for Nepal from inside their own box. Physio in the ground to look after the Nepalese player. Bista looks okay to continue.

25' - Bista releases a through ball into the India box, but Dange fails to reach it. Good move from Nepal, who are taking control of the proceedings slowly.

24' - Long ball attempt towards India goal. Keeper Gurpreet charges out to collect the ball comfortably before the Nepal forward could make the run.

20' - Just one shot on target so far in the match. And it was from Nepal's Bista. India yet to register a shot on target, despite 62% possession.

17' - SAVE! India keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu makes a good diving save to deny Bista from the top of the India box.

17' - Corner for Nepal, first of the match

16' - MISSED! Mahesh makes a brilliant cut back pass from the byline, but Sahal shoots it wide of the Nepal goal from the penalty area.

15' - Sahal gets a good opportunity just outside the Nepal box, but the India player took time to release the ball and Nepal defenders recuperate to thwart the attack.