THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The name is Chhangte. Lallianzuala Chhangte. Stephen Constantine’s decision to look at platforms other than the Indian Super League may just have unearthed potentially the next big star of Indian football.
The 18-year old Chhangte, who became the youngest to play for India when he came on as a substitute against Sri Lanka, again came off the bench for two delightfully taken goals and emerge as the youngest ever Indian to score in an international game. The Mizoram lad’s heroics came late in the second half, as a gritty India had clawed back from a goal down to prevail 4-1 and top Group A.
Scouted by Constantine and AIFF U-19 Elite Academy coach Lee Johnson from the DSK Shivajians-Liverpool Academy in Pune, Chhangte replaced an ineffective Sanju Pradhan on the right and sent the sparse crowd, the best of the tournament so far with 8093 fans getting in at the Greenfield Stadium on Sunday, wild with a stunning effort in the 81st minute.
Receiving the ball wide on the right, he cut inside the wing-back and fired in a curling left-footer that nestled into the far top corner, leaving rival keeper Kiran Kumar Limbu a mere spectator.
On the stroke of full-time, he showed his awareness by almost gliding unnoticed past the Nepal defence to head in a chipped pass from Rowlin Borges, who had another good game in midfield. Earlier, it was Borges who brought India level with a blistering strike in the 26th minute. “I don’t know what they are doing at the ISL. Both these players were not picked. Maybe, now they will pick them,” boomed Constantine after the match, stressing the importance of scouting.
“There are many players like Chhangte in this country, and it is about finding them. The boy was good today, but he needs to do a lot of work. We’ll have to make sure he keeps his feet on the ground,” he added, not forgetting to praise Borges’ tireless efforts.
Having made five changes to the starting eleven, the hosts were in for a shock as Nepal took the lead as early as the third minute, thanks to a bit of good fortune and some alertness from Bimal Magar.
Some good play from right-back Pritam Kotal and Nawayug Shrestha saw the latter run clear and place the ball past keeper Subrata Paul, only to be denied by the right upright. But Magar followed up to tap the ball into an open net.
Creditably, India did not lose their shape, nor their cool, as Narzary joined skipper Sunil Chettri in attack in a 4-4-2 formation, with Robin Singh and Jeje Lalpekhlua rested. While Bikash Jairu slotted into the left of midfield, Borges, who came in as a substitute against Sri Lanka, took up a more central position alongside Eugeneson Lyngdoh.
Nepal came at the hosts with pluck and speed as the new defensive combination and keeper Subrata Paul were tested. The latter, in for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who had little to do in the opening match, kept the team ahead with a couple of good saves in the second session, with Shrestha, Hemanth Gurung and Anil Gurung threatening. In between, skipper Chhetri got on the scoresheet in the 67th minute, taking advantage of a defensive error to stab home from close, following a Narzary cross from the left.