India 0-4 Bayern Munich – Mueller Stars In Bhaichung Bhutia’s Final Hurrah
India put up a gutsy second half performance as they hold the German giants in the second half after they had conceded 4 in the first.
In what turned out to be a David versus Goliath battle, Bayern Munich routed the Men in Blue at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi.
Goals from Mario Gomez, Bastian Schweinsteiger and a brace by Thomas Mueller were enough for the Bundesliga outfit.
Bayern Munich started with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk in the centre of the park with Arjen Robben and Toni Kroos being the wide men.
India’s Savio Medeira interestingly decided to field Rakesh Masih alongside Rocus Lamare in the midfield with Climax Lawrence being on the bench. Sushil Singh was preferred over Jeje Lalpekhlua to partner Bhaichung Bhutia.
Phillip Lahm made a surging run to find Thomas Mueller who found Mario Gomez whose shot almost kissed the far side as early as in the fifth minute.
The away side were casual in their approach as after an initial burst for the opening couple of minutes, they gauged the strength of the opposition, pretty much like the boxer who understands the power needed to knock the opponent down, and took it easy.
Gomez released Arjen Robben inside the box but the left winger’s shot was blocked by the Indian custodian Karanjit Singh.
The breakthrough came in the 14th minute when Mueller, who was allowed to run uninhibited by Govin Moirangthem, found Gomez who provided the final touch.
The testament to how easy Bayern took the game was Manuel Neuer’s positioning as he was standing outside his area for most of the first half.
Robben, spurred by the poor decisions by the referee on a couple of occasions, came inside from the left and his shot just about missed the target.
India’s first attempt, so to say, was when Sushil Singh found Bhaichung, who from 30 yards out, sent the ball into the orbit.
The German side scored their second of the evening with Robben providing an inch perfect cross for Mueller, who headed the ball home.
Toni Kroos, who had been quiet for most of the game not because he was having a poor outing but since he never saw much of the ball, got into the thick of action when his cross saw Mueller score his second with relative ease.
The very minute Mueller sent in a curling ball from the right which almost found the diving Gomez who with the slightest of touched would have found the back of the net.
Schweinsteiger added his name on the scoresheet in the 43rd minute as he slotted the ball home which gave the goalkeeper no chance.
Signed, Sealed & Delivered Bhaichung Bhutia Presented With Custom-Made Autographed Bayern Munich Jersey The Indians never really managed to come out of their own half as the Bavarians dominated every inch of the field.
In the second session, the game was pretty much the same with the first notable piece of action being Subasish Roy Chowdhury making a diving save from a Gomez attempt in the 53rd minute.
The German giants continued to dominate the possession as Savio Medeira’s side were kept inside their own half.
India’s first real shot on target came only in the 82nd minute when Bhaichung Bhutia released the onrushing Jewel Raja whose shot went straight into the hands of Neuer.
The journey came to an end for the Sikkimese Sniper as he bowed out for one last time with the crowd giving him a standing ovation.
Bayern couldn’t add to their tally in the second period as the match eventually finished 4-0 in favour of the German giants.
No comments:
Post a Comment