Kathmandu, Sep 2 (IANS): India came back from a goal down to hold Nepal to a 1-1 draw in an International Friendly held at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Thursday. Midfielder Anirudh Thapa scored for the Blue Tigers in the 60th minute to cancel out the lead Anjan Bista had given the home team in the 36th minute.
The first half kicked off with India straight away on the front foot, earning a corner with their first attack. Brandon's delivery found Chinglensana Singh inside the box but he was denied a shooting chance with a last-ditch challenge. From the second corner, Chinglensana got a chance again but his attempted shot went out for a goal kick.
Liston Colaco was a constant source of threat for India down the left flank, troubling the Nepal defence with his pace and dribbling. In the eighth minute, he beat his marker and produced a dangerous cross that did not find an Indian touch in the penalty area.
With one-fourth of the game completed, Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri won the ball high up the pitch and played it to Liston, who found Manvir Singh with a pass and he won a corner for the Blue Tigers. Brandon curled the ball in but the referee awarded a free-kick to the hosts on a foul on Nepal custodian Kiran Limbu.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was called into action on a few occasions, as he collected the long passes and crosses attempted by the Nepal wingers. Both sides battled it out for the opening goal and in the 36th minute, the hosts took the lead through Anjan Bista, who pounced on a loose pass in the Indian defence and put the ball in the back of the net.
India went forward in search of the equalizer, with Liston charging down the left flank on several occasions and entering dangerous areas with the ball. The score at the break, however, remained 1-0 in favour of Nepal, with Gurpreet making a couple of clean saves towards the end from long-range efforts from the hosts.
The Blue Tigers made a host of changes at the break, with Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad coming into their midfield positions, and Seriton Fernandes and Rahim Ali being brought on as well - making their respective senior India debuts.
Thapa's free-kick in the 50th minute caused havoc inside the Nepal penalty box as the ball fell to Chhetri but he was denied by an onrushing Nepali keeper.
Just three minutes later, Chhetri almost found the back of the net with a trademark header. Manvir crossed from the right flank and the Indian skipper headed the ball at the far post but his effort was just wide of the target.
At the hour mark, the Blue Tigers got the leveller through substitute Thapa, who showed great awareness to poke the ball home from close range. Chhetri's fierce shot from 25 yards could only be palmed into the six-yard box by Kiran and an onrushing Thapa was on hand to react quickly to the rebound and score.
Rahim almost added a quick second goal with a curling effort from outside the penalty area, soon after, but his shot went just past the wrong side of the upright.
The two sides will be in action once again on Sunday (September 5) in the second International Friendly, which will be played at the same venue.