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Picture Credit: IndianFootball

Things are not going well for the Indian Football Team in Nepal. After ending the first international friendly against Nepal in a draw, the team has not been able to get any practice due to the lack of basic amenities in Kathmandu. The Blue Tigers have been stuck in the team hotel since their first game on September 2 and have not got a practice field. A brief morning shower on Friday caused damage to the field and forced the Indian team to cancel their evening practice.

The practice pitch made available to India at the Army Headquarters has extremely dangerous conditions. The entire boot of the players is getting submerged in water as they are taking the field. The head coach Igor Stimac is extremely upset at not being given a decent pitch to practice. What added to the frustration was that the Indian team’s request to practice at the main pitch at Dashrath Stadium was turned down by match officials, citing that an hour’s practice will make the pitch unplayable on match day.

The second match is to be played on September 5

The second international friendly is scheduled to be played on September 5. The home team looked good in the first game and lack of practice for the Blue Tigers can prove costly for the visitors in the next game. In the first game, Indians had started pretty well as they earned a corner in the first attack. However, they failed to capitalize on the start as Chinglensana Singh was denied a shooting chance with a last-ditch challenge. Liston Colaco was a constant threat down the left flank as he continuously troubled 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. Both sides battled hard till the 36th minute when Anjan Bista pounced on a loose pass in the Indian defence and scored the first goal in the match as well as for Nepal. Anirudh Thapa saved India from humiliation as he scored the equaliser in the 60th minute from a close range.