Indian football team beat Nepal 2-0 for 7th consecutive win

India's Sandesh Jinghan (left) and a Nepal forward Bharat Khawas battle for the ball during a friendly at the Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri yesterday. India won 2-0. PIC/SURESH KARKERA

India celebrated their first win after attaining the World No. 100 in the FIFA rankings in style as goals from Sandesh Jhingan and Jeje Lalpekhlua helped the hosts beat neighbours Nepal 2-0 in a friendly at the Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri yesterday.

This was India's seventh consecutive victory.

A 4000-strong crowd at the stadium, pumped up the hosts with chants of 'Come on, India and 'India, India'. The chants grew louder after an opportunity was created by India in the 17th min when the hosts were awarded a corner but failed make good use of it. The Gorkhalis came closer to scoring in the 19th minute but India ''keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who was leading the side in the absence of regular skipper Sunil Chhetri (injured), made no mistake in collecting the ball safely.

The Blue Tigers heaved a sigh of relief after a mistake from Gurpreet, who came forward to collect the ball but missed it, almost cost the hosts a goal, but Nepali striker Nawayug Shrestha failed to drive the ball into an empty Indian net, a minute before the end of first-half.

Then, India's Anas Edathodika missed a header off a corner kick in the 57th minute, but a goal was round the corner as Jhingan's half-volley gave India a 1-0 lead in the 60th minute. Nepal were reduced to 10 men after skipper Biraj Maharjan was shown the red card in the 68th min.

Lalpekhlua then gave India some breathing space with the second goal in the 78th min.

The win will give Stephen Constantine's men a much-needed boost ahead of their crucial Asian Cup Qualifier against Kyrgyz Republic in Bangalore next Tuesday.