India enters SAFF soccer final

New Delhi: Defender Nanjangud Manju's diving header gave India victory over Maldives by one goal to nil and helped the team qualify for the final of the sixth SAFF football championship in Karachi on Saturday.

Manju's goal in the 38th minute saw off the challenge of Maldives and ensured India a spot in the title match for the third time in four tournaments.

However, the team from the Indian Ocean nation had the upper hand for a major part in the match and even had a goal disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Sandip Nandy.

Mehtab Hussain was sent off for a dangerous tackle and he will miss Sunday?s final.

India, who were without the suspended Mehrajuddin Wadoo, could not launch many attacks as the skipper and stiker of the team, Baichung Bhutia, found himself all alone upfront.

They were lucky that the rival forwards did not show better finishing to convert the several chances they got.

Nandy also saved at least two certain goal scoring opportunities for the Maldives.

With seven minutes left for half-time, India, against the run of play took the lead. Attempting to clear Shanmugam Venkatesh?s corner, skipper Abdul Assad Ghani only succeeded in knocking the ball across the face of the goal where it was met by Manju?s diving header.

India also had two goals disallowed when . In the 70th minute when Syed Rahim Nabi?s header off Ajayan?s cross went into the net.

But referee Mukhtal al Yarimi from Yemen ruled that the ball had gone out of play before the East Bengal forward diverted it into goal.

Al Yarmi completed his hat-trick of disallowed goals when he ruled out substitute Abdul Hakim?s tap in after Bhutia had fouled the Maldives keeper.

India will meet Bangladesh in the final of the SAFF football championship in Karachi on Saturday.

Meanwhile defending champions Bangladesh overpowered hosts Pakistan by an identical margin in the second semi-final to secure their berth in the final.

Bangladesh looked a better out fit than their rivals and although the hosts got some open chances but their poor finishing let them down. Bangladesh netted the winner in the 38th minute through a penalty kick of Mohammad Sojan.