SAFF Championship: India 4 Afghanistan 0

India comprehensively defeated 10-man Afghanistan 4-0 in the finals of the South Asian Football Championship on Sunday.

The defending champions came alive only in the final 20 minutes after Afghanistan’s Hameedullah Yousefzari was sent off under questionable circumstances.

A penalty from Sunil Chhetri and goals from Clifford Miranda, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sushil Singh sealed the victory for the Indians.

It was around the hour mark that Jeje was allegedly brought down by Faisal Safa inside the box and referee Sukhbir Singh awarded a dubious penalty to India.

In the aftermath, goalkeeper Hameedullah Yousufzari was given marching orders for pushing the referee.

Chhetri scored from the ensuring spot-kick but had to retake it due to intrusion from Syed Rahim Nabi inside the box.

The India number 11 sent the substitute keeper Bashir Ahmad Darman the wrong way to help side surge ahead.

With a man down Afghanistan were always susceptible to concede more goals with Faisal Safa receiving treatment on the sidelines, Chhetri played Miranda who took a shot from his unfavoured right foot into the far side of the goal.

Chhetri ran with the ball from the left and laid the ball across for Jeje who from his second touch slotted the ball home.

Substitute Sushil Singh scored a gem of a goal as he scored with the final kick of the match.

That goal turned out to be the last piece of action in the game as the referee blew the final whistle to send the Indian fans, staff and players into delirium as they celebrated another SAFF Championship triumph.