EASY TIME: India did not face any resistance from Cambodia. (Photo: CNN-IBN)Nehru Cup: India thrash Cambodia
New Delhi, Aug. 17 (PTI): India made a flying start to the ONGC Nehru Cup football tournament, overpowering Cambodia 6-0, with Steven Dias and Sunil Chetri scoring a brace and N P Pradeep and skipper Bhaichung Bhutia also chipping in with a goal each.
Once the hosts settled down, they dominated the encounter and the match was largely played in the Cambodian half as the South-east Asians were taught a footballing lesson.
The forward line of Bhutia and local lad Sunil Chetri constantly troubled the opposition defenders and Renedy Singh and Steven Dias were quick to capitalise.
The Indians took the lead in the 17th minute when Pradeep received a lay-off from Bhutia and unleashed a vicious right-footer that screamed into the bottom left hand corner giving Cambodian custodian Oum Veasna no chance.
The goal increased the confidence of Bob Houghton's side and the Indians proceeded to give the opposition more trouble with a freekick from Renedy in the 28th minute hitting the crossbar.
On one of the rare Cambodian forays, the ball was saved on the Indian goalline by Renedy.
But the Indian attacks kept coming and a sliding Pradeep hit a Dias centre just wide off goal.
The woodwork denied India again when a header from Pradeep was blocked by the keeper and Bhutia's rebound came off the upright.
Once the hosts settled down, they dominated the encounter and the match was largely played in the Cambodian half as the South-east Asians were taught a footballing lesson.
The forward line of Bhutia and local lad Sunil Chetri constantly troubled the opposition defenders and Renedy Singh and Steven Dias were quick to capitalise.
The Indians took the lead in the 17th minute when Pradeep received a lay-off from Bhutia and unleashed a vicious right-footer that screamed into the bottom left hand corner giving Cambodian custodian Oum Veasna no chance.
The goal increased the confidence of Bob Houghton's side and the Indians proceeded to give the opposition more trouble with a freekick from Renedy in the 28th minute hitting the crossbar.
On one of the rare Cambodian forays, the ball was saved on the Indian goalline by Renedy.
But the Indian attacks kept coming and a sliding Pradeep hit a Dias centre just wide off goal.
The woodwork denied India again when a header from Pradeep was blocked by the keeper and Bhutia's rebound came off the upright.
