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Embrace New India. On Sunday in the Nehru Cup final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, India played like a team for the future. Paint the larger picture, that of the entire 12-day meet, and there are bright spots and only bright spots!



India did not blink from the first whistle. They not only closed down the Indomitable Lions well but also intercepted expertly in the middle of the park. One such instance saw Indian Captain Sunil Chhetri get past his markers to shoot. Every move was being cheered by the 25000 plus crowd that had turned up to watch ‘New India.’ And they did not have to wait too long to celebrate.

India beat Cameroon 5-4 (2-2) on penalties in their Nehru Cup final to emerge champions for the third time in a row. After both teams were tied 2-2 despite 120 minutes, Robin Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Denzel Franco, Mehtab Hossain and Clifford Miranda scored from the spot while for Cameroon, Makon Thierry muffed – he hit the post.

They fought like tigers creating chances one after the other. India enjoyed the upper edge in the first half of the extra time and should have taken the lead. As time wore on and penalties loomed large after the breather, the tension was palpable on the field. Finally the whistle blew for the final time and it was time for the penalties.

India win the Nehru Cup for the third time in a row.



INDIA: Subrata Pal, Nirmal Chhetri (Denzil Franco 90’), Gouramangi Singh, Raju Gaikwad, Syed Rahim Nabi, Sanju Pradhan (Robin Singh 63’), Mehtab Hossain, Lenny Rodrigues, Clifford Miranda, Francis Fernandes, Sunil Chhetri.