India beats Sri Lanka 3-1 to keep Nehru Cup hopes alive

Steven Dias was the difference between the two teams, and what a difference he made! His footwork was like a magical wand that time and again put his teammates in scoring positions and the 3-1 victory that India sealed in the crucial match against Sri Lanka consolidated their position in the five-team league of the Nehru Cup tournament.

It was quite fitting that Dias himself scored the third goal with five minutes to go, a lovely right-footer settling the issue after a keenly contested second session. Dias's lithe frame cut past the defence with ease and the way he put the right flank into use turned the tide in favour of the home side. The Mahindra United player, who is known for his finesse with corner kicks, finally walked off the field to a standing ovation from the crowd of 12,000, substituted with only two minutes to go.

Skipper Baichung Bhutia and Gouramangi Singh were the other marksmen as India scored a second consecutive win, having lost to Lebanon in the opening match and then getting the better of Kyrgyzstan.

Dias and Bhutia were in the midst of action in the second session, the skipper once hitting into the goalkeeper and finding the framework off a pass from Dias on a different occasion. India were leading by a goal having the better of the exchanges but Ruwanathilake came up with the equaliser off a corner kick in the 62nd minute.

India recharged on the attacks and Dias set up the second goal. He found NP Pradeep close to the goalmouth. Pradeep could only manage to hit into the custodian but stopper-back Gouramangi put the ball in off the rebound to put the team ahead eight minutes later. Striker Sunil Chhetri also looked dangerous a couple of times while Pradeep found the framework on one occasion, as India took control of the match once more midway into the second half.

If there was a contest in the second session, the first one certainly belonged to the home side. Dias was instrumental in putting pressure from early, the Indian strikers lurking around the goalmouth, sniffing that a goal was always round the corner. An early chip from Climax Lawrence to Dias set the tempo but the ball could only find the body of goalkeeper Asanka Viraj. This move was down the centre, but Dias slowly slid into take command of the right side.

A cross from him was headed in by Chhetri, but he was ruled off side. There were some other tries as well, the nearest that India came to taking the lead when Dias cut past defender Chathura Madhuranga and unleashed a firm right-footer that hit the cross piece.

The Indian attacks were flowing well midway into the first session and the only goal of the first half came off a rhythmic move down the right flank, with Dias playing a crucial role in it. In the 25th minute, Surkumar Singh passed the ball down the centre to Dias, who cut towards the right and sent a crisp cross that was headed in comfortably by Bhutia, who was in perfect position.