Football News
Nehru Cup Football Tournament 2009, New Delhi, India

India bt Syria 5-4 in sudden-death (1-1 after extra-time)

Goal Scored - Potsangbam Renedy Singh (Ind) 114' and Ali Diab (SYR) 120+'
Penalty Shoot-out
• 0-1 IND Climax Lawrence - scores
• 1-1 SYR Raja Rafe - scores
• 1-1 IND Potsangbam Renedy Singh - missed
• 1-1 SYR Wael Ayan - saved by Subrata
• 1-2 IND Sunil Chetri - scores
• 1-2 SYR Ahmad Haj Mohamad - saved by Subrata
• 1-3 IND Steven Benedic Dias - scores
• 2-3 SYR Mousab Balhous - scores
• 2-3 IND Mehrajuddin Wadoo - saved by Balhous
• 3-3 SYR Abdul Fattah Alaga - scores
• 3-4 IND Anwar Ali - scores
• 4-4 SYR Abdelrazaq Al Hussain - scores
• 4-5 IND Irungbam Surkumar Singh - scores
• 4-5 SYR Hamzeh Al Aitounim - saved by Subrata Pal

HEARTILY CONGRATULATIONS TO INDIAN TEAM AND BOB HOUGHTON FOR LIFTING NEHRU CUP 2009 TITLE!!!

After goaless fulltime in 2nd extra time India takes the lead in 114th minute on freekick by Renedy Singh, but Syria manages to find the equalizer in the dying seconds of the extra time to take match in penalty shoot-out ... In penalty shoot-out 22 yrs old Subrata Pal turned as hero saving three kicks including the last kick in sudden-death ... This victory also gave India coach Bob Houghton a hat-trick of titles, having earlier guided the team to the last Nehru Cup crown in 2007 and AFC Cup Challenge in 2008.

This win was much sweeter considering Syrian coach Fajer Ebrahim's comments before the final, he commented - "Indian team doesn't look as good they were 2 yrs back. They are not doing lots of running (in the match) and they doesn't have fighting spirit."

Our team gave him fitting reply with their game and lifting Nehru Cup 2009 title.

As expected Indian Captain Baichung Bhutia won award of Man of the Tournament.

Fajer Ebrahim, Head Coach Syria - congratulated India for winning the ONGC Nehru Cup 2009. He however said that India were lucky to have won. We missed so many chances but Indian goal came through. We had practiced Penalties yesterday but missed out in the game. He described Indian Goal Keeper as great.

Indian coach Bob Houghton - "The win as Dramatic victory. One minute was left and we lost concentration. The team is very disciplined and talented and gave one hundred percent today. I am pleased with the boys. We got good support from the stands as it was a full house today."