Tri-Nation International Football Tournament 2023: Anirudh Thapa’s goal hands India 1-0 win over Myanmar

Riding on a solitary goal by Anirudh Thapa, the Indian football team registered their first win of the year with a 1-0 victory over Myanmar in the Tri-Nation International Football Tournament 2023 at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal, Manipur, on Wednesday.

Anirudh Thapa scored the solitary goal of the match in the 45th minute.  

India started the match on a cautious note while Myanmar made probing runs in search of an early goal. Igor Stimac’s men, however, soon grew into the match and created opportunities through counterattacks. The Indian forwards, however, failed to capitalise on the chances. 

In the 32nd minute, Indian captain Sunil Chhetri was presented with a golden opportunity to break the deadlock but the veteran striker failed to divert a cross past the Myanmar goalkeeper Sann Sat Naing. 

India finally took the lead in the dying minutes of the first half. Anirudh Thapa latched on to a cross from Rahul Bheke and slotted in from a close range to make it 1-0 for the hosts. The Sunil Chhetri-captained team went into the break with a slender lead. 

The second half saw India start with the same intent as they went in search of another goal. However, despite a flurry of chances falling to Sunil Chhetri, the hosts failed to double the lead. 

India kept mounting attacks on the Myanmar goal late in the game but the visitors’ defence refused to wilt under pressure as India eked out a narrow win.

This was India’s first match of 2023. The Indian football team last played Vietnam in a friendly in September.

India will next play Kyrgyz Republic at the same venue on March 28. The two matches are part of the Indian team’s preparation for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar,  which begins in January next year