SAFF Championship 2018 FULL MATCH: India get off to a winning start against Sri Lanka

THE YOUNGSTERS STEPPING INTO the shoes of the seniors didn't have an uncomfortable moment in their SAFF Championship campaign opener against Sri Lanka, registering a 2-0 win.

23 year old Subhasish Bose led the team out on onto the pitch on his debut as the national team captain, and his teammates gifted him a memorable game.

With Sumit Passi and Lallianzuala Chhangte getting hold of chances but not managing to finish, the first half an hour was a tale of the Blue Tigers slowly finding their groove, and once they got going Sri Lanka hardly got a chance.

It was Aashique Kuruniyan who opened the scoring for India 35 minutes in, and early in the second half Lallianzuala Chhangte finally got a cathartic reward for his hard work all game when he sent in a superb cross from the left that fooled the entire Lankan defence and found the net near the far post.

Although Sri Lanka kept on trying to make a comeback but the Indian defence remained steady all game. Keeper Vishal Kaith hardly had any work to do all game, but he was enthusiastic on the rare occasions when he got to touch the ball

You can watch the entire match right here, provided by Bangladesh Television...

India will face Maldives on 9th of September, which is likely to be a much more hard-fought game. With the attack still having a lot to brush up on at the finishing department, Constantine will have his job cut out. But the Indian coach and the fans will take heart from the solid display the Indian midfield put up this evening.