NEW DELHI: India kept alive their hopes of defending the ONGC Nehru Cup football title after an emphatic 3-1 win over Sri Lanka in the round robin match at the Ambedkar Stadium here Wednesday.
Bhaichung Bhtuia struck a header in the 25th minute and defender Gourmangi Singh doubled the lead in the 69th minute. Steven Dias then stretched the tally in the 89th minute as India remained on course to qualify for Monday's final. Dinesh Ruwanthilake scored the solitary goal for Sri Lanka in the 62nd minute.
India now have six points from three matches and need a draw against tournament favourites Syria in the last game Saturday to qualify for the title-clash.
But the hosts will have an eye on Thursday's clash between Lebanon and Syria and Friday's game between Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan. Both Lebanon and Sri Lanka have four points each and need an outright win in their last match to spoil India's chances.
Though after Wednesday's performance, the hosts would believe that they can go into the final without looking into any mathematical calculation.
It was undoubtedly, India's best showing in the tournament so far and came in front of enthusiastic turnout.
India played to a gameplan and dominated the game. In the must-win match, India never dropped their shoulders despite losing the lead in the 62nd minute.
But what did the trick for India was coach Bob Houghton's decision to start with wing-back Surkumar Singh in place of Dipak Mondal.
The combination of Surkumar and right-half Steven Dias rattled the Sri Lankan defence. Surkumar, with his speed and agility, and Dias, with his precise crosses, kept the Indian forwards moving.
Though Bhutia was adjudged as the Man of the Match, but the real star for India's win was Dias, who combined with Surkumar to create as many as nine chances. Dias himself was on target twice.
As early as in the second minute Anthony Pereira had only the goalkeeper to beat but could not get past Asanka Viraj's stretched hand. Four minutes later, Viraj was again the saviour when he spectacularly saved Dias's swerving shot.
The Dias-Surkumar combo finally managed to break through when Dias curled one in from Surkumar's pass and Bhutia headed in to give India the lead.
In the second half, Sri Lanka showed some initiative to get the equaliser and it came through Ruwanthilake's header off a flag-kick.
Seven minutes later, Gourmangi tapped in off a rebound from N.P Pradeep's header. The goal infuriated the Sri Lankan captain Chathura Maduranga who slapped goalkeeper Viraj.
With five minutes remaining for the final whistle, Dias darted in to connect Renedy Singh's long ball and shot past Viraj.
India: Subrata Paul; Surkumar Singh, Gourmangi Singh, Anwar, Mahesh Gawli; Steven Dias (Syed Rahim Nabi, 88), Climax Lawrence, N.P.Pradeep (Mahrajuddin Wadoo, 90+), Anthony Pereira (Renedy Singh, 63); Sunil Chettri, Bhaichung Bhutia
Sri Lanka: H.Kumara, Dinesh Ruwanthilake, R.Warakagoda, H.Hettiarachchi, Ramlan Tuwan Gafoor Raheem (Tharusa Rangana, 78); Chatura Maduranga, Chathura Gunaratne, Mohamed Rawme Mohideen, Mohamed Asmeer (R.M.J.D. Rathnayake 61); Mohamed Naufar Mohamed Issadeen, Ediri Bandalage Channa
Referee: Adil Ali (Maldives)