PROUD INDIANS
Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia and teammate Suni Chhetri celebrate after defeating Syria in the final match of the Nehru Cup football tournament in New Delhi on Monday.
New Delhi: Defending champions India defeated Syria on sudden death penalty to win the five nation Nehru Cup soccer tournament in New Delhi on Monday.
Both teams were locked goal-less after full time and tied 1-1 at the end of extra time forcing a penalty shootout which the home team won 5-4.
After the match was goalless in the regulation time, Renedy Singh scored through a free-kick in 24th minute of extra time. But Syria's Ali Dyab equalised in the last minute of the match to take the game to a tie-breaker.
Indian goalkeeper Subrata Paul's heroics lit up the dramatic summit clash as defending champions India tamed Syria via tie-breaker. Paul, the hero of the match made as many as three saves in the penalty shootout, including the last shot from Hamzeh Al Aitoni, triggering celebrations among the crowd.
Football fans in the stadium went into frenzy with joy as India registered a win over the Syrian team. The final match of the Nehru Cup International
Football Tournament was held at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.
For India, Climax Lawrence, Sunil Chhetri, Steven Dias,
Anwar Ali and Surkumar Singh scored in the shootout while Renedy Singh and
Meharajuddin Wadoo missed the target.
For Syria, Raja Rafe, Mosab Balhous, Abdul Fatah Alaga and Abdul Razak Al Hussain found the target while the shots taken by Hamzeh Al Attouni, Wael
Ayan and Ahmad Haj Muhammad were saved by Paul.