India win AFC Challenge Cup to qualify for Asia Cup
India on Wednesday thrashed defending champions Tajikistan 4-1 in the final of AFC Challenge Cup football tournament here and qualified for the Asian Cup after a hiatus of 24 years.
Playing one of their best matches in the recent times, India outplayed its Central Asian rival in all departments of the game in the thrilling summit clash of the eight-nation Asia’s second tier competition whose winners get a direct entry to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Doha.
On the eve of the AFC Challenge Cup final against holders Tajikistan, India coach Bob Houghton had stressed on the importance of a vociferous crowd support in big games. Understandable because with a place in the Asian Cup finals in Qatar on line, India were undoubtedly playing their biggest game in over two decades.
Sunil Chhetri scored a hattrick (9th, 23, 75) — the first by an Indian ever in a final — and Bhaichung Bhutia added another in the 19th minute to end the contest even before their opponents warmed up.
The Nehru Cup champions were given a standing ovation by an over 20,000 crowd at the Ambedkar stadium before kick-off and the inspired men in blue scored thrice before the clock touched the 30-minute mark to lead India to a comprehensive 4-1 win.
Inspirational India captain Baichung Bhutia added another goal for the hosts in the 23rd minute under floodlights at the Ambedkar Stadium to give India their third entry in the continental elite stage.
India last played in the Asian Cup in 1984 under Yugoslav coach Ciric Milovan with players of calibre like Shabbir Ali, Subrata Bhattacharya, Krishanu Dey and Prasanta Banerjee in the team.
Before that they were runners up in 1964 in Israel where the hosts defeated India in the final.