Pal of fame

In the end, it all came down to Subrata Pal’s brilliance. The lanky goalkeeper, who showed sublime form throughout the Nehru Cup tournament, made three superb saves as India completed a 6-5 victory over Syria in sudden death to retain the title.

Pal not just came up with a memorable performance but also kept up the morale after Renedy Singh had missed the second penalty shot for India. Stretching himself after each shot, the custodian made it a point to run across to Renedy and tell him not to worry. It was not just the compassion of a team-mate but the confidence of a man in form.

Pal made two saves in the tie-breaker and one in the sudden-death as India wrapped a thriller after the extra-time yielded a goal each from either side. Coach Bob Houghton was lifted up in celebration after the Indian team took a victory lap with Baichung Bhutia carrying the Indian flag.

India had beaten Syria 1-0 in the last edition in 2007, but this victory was harder coming and much sweeter as the opposition was unbeaten in the tournament and had not conceded a goal.

Climax Lawrence, Sunil Chhetri and Steven Dias converted for India while Mehrajuddin Wadoo’s kick was saved. After the teams got three goals each in the tie-breaker to end it at 4-4, Anwar and Surkumar Singh scored in the sudden death.

For Syria, Raja Rafe, Mosab Balhous and Alaa Alshbli scored in the tie-breaker, while Wael Ayan and Ahmad Haj Muhmad failed. Abdalrazak Al Housian kept them in contention by converting the first spot kick of the sudden death but Hamzeh Alattouni could not get past Pal and the crowds spilled on to the field.

It is not often that one sees spectators throng the balconies of the adjacent Ferozeshah Kotla to get a view of a football match here. But that was what added to the electric atmosphere even as a few thousand waited outside a packed house of 16,000 among which was cine star Salman Khan. It was a pulsating final, that, despite a number of exchanges in extra-time, seemed set to end goalless. But a superb curling shot off a free-kick by Renedy Singh five minutes from time put the home side ahead.

Even as tempers rose and India failed to get either big clearances or retain ball possession, Dyab came up from behind to head in the equaliser with seconds to go.
India dominated the first half of regular time but were lucky to see off some close shaves on their own citadel. Bhutia looked a little out of sorts while Chhetri’s deflections were not on the spot in the few chances close to the goal. Syrian striker Abdul Fatah Alaga once hit the goalpost midway into the second session and an another occasion over the post. Ayan and Dyab too had some close looks at the Indian goal, but with Paul showing superb anticipation, the attacks were thwarted.

The match started with India managing an attack every other minute, but none of the forays translated into a goal.

The very first minute saw captain Baichung Bhutia move in from the left but was unable to score as his left-footer went straight to his counterpart Mosab Balhous, the goalkeeper stabilising himself to even gather the second attempt by Bhutia off a rebound.