AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Indian National Team started this year on a flying colour by overpowering Afghanistan in a nail-biting final of the SAFF Suzuki Cup played at the Trivandrum International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

After the regulation period finished on a 1-1 level pegging, the talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri netted the winner to hand the Indian team their seventh SAFF Championship, most by any nation till date.

The triumph stays significant as a depleted India were without three regular starters for the Tournament with Cavin Lobo, Sandesh Jhingan, Dhanpal Ganesh nursing injuries and to make matters worse, Robin Singh limped out midway in the first match itself.

In the final played in front of a strong 45,000 engrossed crowd, India started on a cautious note and at the halfway mark, there was minimal difference between the two sides.

In the 70^th minute, Afghani striker Amiri put their side in front but Jeje, having scored his third goal in the SAFF Suzuki Cup, cancelled out the visitors' lead after just two minutes.

Eventually, Chhetri, tapped it home in the 101st minute to put his team in the driver's seat for the first time in the match. Eventually, the vigilant Indian defenders saw off the danger in the remaining time to lift the SAFF trophy once again after 2011.

Chhetri, who scored three goals in the tournament, was bestowed with the 'MVP of the tournament'. Incidentally, the winning goal was Chhetri's 50th goal in the National colour, first Indian footballer to attain the enviable feat till date.