Arindam stars in India's fifth SAFF Cup triumph

Dhaka: Goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya put up some excellent saves as India under-23 team defeated defending champions Maldives 3-1 via the penalty shoot-out to lift their fifth South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup title in Dhaka on Sunday.

The young boys, in front of a packed Bangabandhu Stadium, took sweet revenge of the senior team's 2008 loss in Colombo.

It was also the second time in the year that a goalkeeper starred for India in a final. If it was Subrata Paul who shone in the Nehru Cup triumph earlier in the year, on Sunday it was Churchill Brothers' goalkeeper Arindam's chance to hog the limelight in his first major international tournament. Arindam, a reserve goalkeeper in the national team, was also adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Arindam saved shots from Ahmed Toriq and Nasser Mukhtar while star striker Ali Ashfaq shot wide as the Maldives surrendered the title. Fazeel Ibrahim could get the only goal in the shoot-out.

Jibon Singh, Denil Franco and Subodh Kumar were on target while Nirmal Chettri shot wide as India picked up the prize money of $50,000.

It was a creditable performance of the under-23 team against the big boys in the sub-continent.

In the final, the Maldives were tipped to be the favourites, having defeated India 0-2 in the group stage.

But the young Indian team put up a brave effort to stretch the match to penalty shoot-out. Both teams had their fair share of opportunities to finish off the game in the regulation time, but lacked a good finisher.

After a dull goalless first-half, both teams showed enough urgency to break the deadlock in the second half.

India's attack lacked the firepower but their defence was rock-solid with an acrobatic Arindam under the bar. And but for Arindam, India would have suffered its second consecutive SAFF Cup loss.

There was no coordination between India strikers Sushil Kumar and Balwant Singh and the former missed as many as three clear chances. At last, it was the heroics of Arindam that saved the day for India - and earned it the trophy.