India vs Nepal Highlights, SAFF Championship 2023: IND 2-0 NEP at FT; India through to semis

SAFF Championship 2023 Live Updates: India 2-0 Nepal at Full Time

That's all from our Live coverage of India vs Nepal match. The Live action of SAFF Championship 2023 will continue on myKhel as Bangladesh vs Maldives (3:30 PM IST) and Lebanon vs Bhutan (7:30 PM IST) are lined-up. Do join us! This is your host Aditya K Halder wishing you good night!

India vs Nepal Live Updates: IND 2-0 NEP at Full Time

India will next face Kuwait in their final group game and is not entirely a dead rubber as the Middle East side currently lead the Group A by virtue of scoring more goals as both sides are locked on six points each. The winner of the game will decide who will take the top spot in the group and avoid Lebanon in all likely in the semis.

2️⃣ goals in quick succession 🤩 India are through to the #SAFFChampionship2023 Semifinal 👏🏽💙#NEPIND ⚔️ #IndianFootball ⚽️ #BlueTigers 🐯 pic.twitter.com/ByzfjsKSZY

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 24, 2023

SAFF Championship 2023 Live Updates: India 2-0 Nepal at FT

It was another clinical show by India, who have had their struggles in the first half with Nepal finding gaps in the Indian defence. However, India overwhelmed the Himalayan outfit with their quality in attack in the second half, especially after the opening goal by Chhetri as substitute Lallinzuala Chhangte's pace and youthful exhuberance put Nepal under lot of pressure and eventually conceded the second goal to Noarem Mahesh Singh, who head it in from the goal line.

SAFF Championship 2023 Live: India 2-0 Nepal at FT

Sunil Chhetri and men take a round through the ground to thanks the fans for pouring in the stand in numbers and celebrated the Viking Claps with the famed West Block Blues as well

SAFF Championship 2023 Live: India 2-0 Nepal at Full Time!

Nope they won't as Rohit Chand takes an audacious direct freekick from 30 yards which was way off target! The referee blows the final whistle and India are through to the semis while knocking out Nepal from the title run! India take Kuwait with them to the semis as well while India's clean sheet count rises to record eight consecutive games!

SAFF Championship 2023 Live: India 2-0 Nepal 90+3'

Nepal wins a late indirect freekick and could be the last bit of action. Can they find a consolatory goal?

India vs Nepal Live Updates, SAFF Championship: IND 2-0 NEP 90+2'

Spoke too early as Indian forwards are still showing the hunger to score goals and are building their attacks through some quality one-touch play to the delight of the fans.

India vs Nepal Live Updates, SAFF Championship: IND 2-0 NEP 90+1'

The match official adds four minutes of injury time while India try to see out the game.

India vs Nepal Live Updates: IND 2-0 NEP 86'

India are not dropping down their intensity despite the two-goal lead as Noarem laid off Akash Mishra deep on the left flank, who smartly fed Rahim Ali inside the box but the striker couldn't touch the ball as the ball went away from the box.

SAFF Championship 2023 Live: India 2-0 Nepal 82'

India's assistant coach Mahesh Gawli makes another change as striker Rahim Ali comes in place of No. 10 Sahal Abdul Samad.

India vs Nepal Live Updates, SAFF Championship: IND 2-0 NEP 79'

Chhangte is terrorising Nepal defence with his runs down the right flank and win a corner as well. The resulting corner was delivered by Thapa to unmarked Bheke, whose header was straight to the goalkeeper!

India vs Nepal Live Updates, SAFF Championship: IND 2-0 NEP 78'

The second goal was down to the darting run from substitute Lallinzuala Chhangte, who came in for Udanta while the fight broke out between Indian and Nepal players. Midfielder Jeakson Singh came in as well for Rohit Kumar.

India vs Nepal Live score: IND 2-0 NEP GOOOOALLLLL!

Noarem Mahesh Singh has put his name on the scoring sheet! The winger ran close to the box to head the ball in amid confusion after Sunil Chhetri's shot on target was deflected to the crossbar and fell nicely to Mahesh for the head in. It was still tricky for the Indian winger as he was under challenge from a Nepal defender.

SAFF Championship 2023 Live Updates: India 1-0 Nepal 65'

Rahul Bheke gets into a heated argument with Nepal's Bimal Magar and soon a melee broke out! The fight, however, was short lived and entertained the crowd further.

India vs Nepal Live Updates, SAFF Championship: IND 1-0 NEP GOOOOALLLLLL!

Sunil Chhetri with a tap-in for his 91st international goal! The goal was down to tremendous effort by Mahesh, who played a one-two with Sahal before assisting Chhetri with a low cross.

SAFF Championship 2023 Live: India 0-0 Nepal 59'

Akash Mishra makes a promising overlapping run with Mahesh waiting for a through ahead of him but the left-back makes a poor pass out of play after being put under pressure by Nepal player.

India vs Nepal Live Updates, SAFF Championship: IND 0-0 NEP 55'

Nepal defence has begun to frustrate Indian forwards as Naorem Mahesh Singh takes a wild attempt from outside the box and the effort wasn't even close to the target!

India vs Nepal Live Updates, SAFF Championship: IND 0-0 NEP 52'

Noarem Mahesh wrestles off his marker and finds space in the box to shoot but the winger lost his balance following the tussle and couldn't shoot the ball in time as Nepal centre-backs soon crowded him and took the ball out of play for a corner!

SAFF Championship 2023 Live: India 0-0 Nepal 51'

Anirudh Thapa lobs the ball through brilliantly for Udanta Singh to exploit using his pace but Nepal left-back Devendra Tamang had the pace to match Udanta take the ball out of play.

SAFF Championship 2023 Live: India 0-0 Nepal 48'

Nepal have started the brightest in the second half with back-to-back attacks from either flanks which eventually led to a shot off target from far after Indian defence held their lines well to keep the danger at bay!

India vs Nepal Live Updates: IND 0-0 NEP 46'

Players return to the field and the second half gets underway!

India vs Nepal Live Updates: IND 0-0 NEP at Half Time

Noarem Mahesh Singh and Udanta Singh were expected to get better off the Nepal full-backs on the day but the rivals were up to the task to keep them quiet. Abdul Sahal Samad was often crowded in the middle as well and his decision-making with releasing the ball for the forwards ahead wasn't up to the mark as well. Rahul Bheke has done well as playmaking centre-back, spraying diagonal balls for the wingers time and again.

SAFF Championship 2023 Live: India 0-0 Nepal at Half Time

It won't be wrong to call it an even half with India having better chances to score. Saying that, none could open the scoring and both had chances to take the lead. India went in to the game with two attack-minded full-backs and Nepal were not scared of exploiting that as they found space on the flanks on multiple ocassions and even had a shot on target. Overall it was a brilliant defensive shifts from both the sides in an end-to-end affair!

SAFF Championship 2023 Live: India 0-0 Nepal at half time!

Nikhil Poojary runs from the back to deliver a promising ball for Udanta, who got past his marker and could have been free in front of the goalkeeper but the Indian winger made a heavy touch for Kiran to collect and hit it back into the centre! The referee soon blows the half time whistle!

SAFF Championship 2023 Live: India 0-0 Nepal 45+2'

Thapa aimed for a corner delivery for unmarked Sunil Chhetri on the far post but the goalkeeper Kiran used his hands to reach out the ball first! Kiran threw the ball early for a counter opportunity but Indian defence kept the danger at bay by falling back quick!

India vs Nepal Live score: IND 0-0 NEP 45+1'

The match official adds four minutes of stoppage time as India win a corner!

SAFF Championship 2023 Live Updates: India 0-0 Nepal 44'

Forced substitution for Nepal as Awas Lammichhane replaces injured Anjan Bista.

India vs Nepal Live score: IND 0-0 NEP 40'

Udanta Singh delivers a threatening ball inside the box from right flank following the restart for Sahal running into the far post but Nepal goalkeeper Kiran Limbu just palmed the ball away to safety! Could have been the opening goal there

SAFF Championship 2023 Live: India 0-0 Nepal 39'

The match is stopped momentarily as a Nepal player has asked for medical attention following a collapse with an Indian player

India vs Nepal Live Updates: IND 0-0 NEP 34'

The attack triggered end-to-end play as both sides made counter-attacking opportunities to score. Lack of quality and some alert defending meant none could score. Notably, Sahal Abdul Samad was at fault for holding the ball for too long as Mahesh was making a free run down the left flank while asking for the ball. Could have been a decisive pass there!