Image Courtesy : AIFF/Twitter
In the final match of the Hero Tri-Nation tournament at Khuman Lampak Stadium on Tuesday, March 28, the Indian men’s national team defeated the Kyrgyz Republic 2-0.
2️⃣ wins in 2️⃣💪
The #BlueTigers are winners of the #HeroTriNation in Imphal!🏆😍 #KGZIND ⚔️ #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/CVOWR5Pnyi— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 28, 2023
In the opening exchanges, there was an intense battle in the midfield. By switching the ball to the flanks and using their dangerous wingers, India sought ways to build a game from the back. The Kyrgyz Republic, on the other hand, remained compact and was ready to strike India. Their possession was sometimes sloppy, leading to conflict.
Brandon Fernandes’ free-kick found Sandesh Jhingan, whose close-range effort found the back of the net as a reward for the Blue Tigers’ pressure. In the first half, both sides lacked fluidity, but India headed into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead. Throughout the second half, the White Falcons dominated the Indian defence. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was called to action twice. The Blue Tigers, led by Jhingan, were stubborn and kept a clean sheet during the game.