2012 AFC Challenge Cup : India 0-2 Phillipines

Disappointing and frustrating – thatai??i??s how you would describe Indiaai??i??s performance in their second group game of the AFC Challenge Cup campaign against Phillipines as the 2008 champions were sent hurtling out of the tournament with a 0-2 loss – their second successive with the same margin. The defensive mistakes were repeated, hardly any chances were created despite enjoying fairly good possession and there was as apparent failure to get the ball in good areas – all ingredients for a recipe of disaster.

After the disappointing defeat to Tajikistan, Savio Medeira made two changes to the line up bringing in Joaquim Abranches and Reisangmi Vashum in place of Sushil Kumar Singh and Anthony Pereira. They were much needed changes but questions were again raised by the pundits as to why Adil Khan and Samir Naik were persisted with? Phillipines on the other hand, smarting from a loss against DPR Korea in their opening match also made two changes to their line up -Ai?? Carli de Murga andAi?? Rob Gier being replaced by Misagh Bahadoran and Marvin Angeles.

But it was the same old story for the Indian defense as once again they crumbled under repeated attacks. As early as the 10^th minute, India found themselves behind when Phil Younghusband found the ball falling to him in an unmarked area. He wriggled his way to create some space and blasted the ball into the net past Karanjit Singh who was probably unsighted. Four minutes earlier though, India had a decent chance when a Joaquim Abranches ball was laid perfectly for Reisangmi Vashum but the Manipuri winger shot over the bar.

Ai??It’s all over for the defending Champions
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After conceding the goal it was a sight that is now becoming familiar to all Indian football fans. Despite enjoying superior possession, the Indians were at loss on how to get the ball ahead and build up play from the back. The ball possessionAi??could not make a difference asAi??far too many times they lost the ball under pressure. When they reached the final third, they clearly froze – running out of ideas. Sunil Chhetri must have hardly got one clear cut chance to score – save for the chance that he muffed up towards the end.

The midfielders lacked creativity and once they got the ball they more often than not, didnai??i??t know how to deal with it. The physically strong Filipino defenders were imposing in defense and their midfielders were overpowering their Indian counterparts – such was the dominance of the Azkals. Indiaai??i??s next chance came in the 40^th minute when Joaquim Abranchesai??i?? shot from inside the box went straight into the hands of the Filipino keeper Neil Etheridge.

After the break it was againAi??a familiar story. Indiaai??i??s defenders being brushed aside by their opponents, their midfield looking shapeless and strikers looking forlorn figures in the Filipino territory. Phillipines made the result safe after Phil Younghusband scored his brace with a neat finish after brilliantly opening up his body. Once again the Indian defenders were guilty of allowing him far too much time on the ball. Sunil Chhetri towards the end was guilty of missing a sitter when he sent his shot over in front of an open goal after being fed by Sushil Kumar Singh.Ai??

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Mistakes were repeated
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Persisting with Adil Khan who doesnai??i??t even start regularly for Sporting Clube de Goa still remains an mystery for many Indian football fans. He looked totally out of sorts and had to be replaced after 33 minutes. Playing Sameer Naik on the wings is a schoolboy error. Sameerai??i??s pace has reduced and was dramatized on many occasions during the game against Tajikistan and Phillipines. In the I-League though samir has been exceptional for Dempo at right back – in this tournament against superior opposition he has been killed for pace on plenty of occasions.

Ai??Savio Medeira failed to inspire the team

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Why Syed Rahim Nabi is being sacrificed in defense?
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What helps the team better? Playing an attacking Nabi in a defensive position curtailing his natural game? Or playing him on the left of midfield where he is allowed to run up and down the flank and play his natural game? The games where he has been brilliant for Mohun Bagan have all been in the left half position and surely Savio Medeira knows that. But still an attacking Syed Rahim Nabi has been sacrificed to make India defensively stronger. It would make much better sense to play a natural left back like Robert Lathalma or Debabrata Roy at that position and move Nabi to a more attacking role. That Robert and Debabrata did not find a place in the team is an altogether different matter.

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When will India learn to keep the ball?
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To be fair India’s play has been an utter eyesore. When was the last timeAi??IndiaAi??strung 10-12Ai??continuousAi??passes fromAi??defenseAi??to attack. Long balls have been the order of the day and India still hasn’t learnt the passing game. What amazes everyone is that even thoughAi??India doesn’tAi??haveAi??theAi??tallAi??physical strikers to play the long ball game, the coach seems to be hell bent upon persisting with the long ball technique, which is one of the reasons that India did not manage to find the back of the net even once in this tournament so far.

Hope Savio and his players would learn some lessons from these defeats and display a better performance against North Korea in their last match of the tournament.

Ai??

2012 AFC Challenge Cup : India 0-2 Phillipines – THT Debrief

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