2007 Nehru Cup

Summary

The 2007 Nehru Cup International Football Tournament, also known as the ONGC Nehru Cup due to the competition's sponsorship by ONGC, was the 13th edition of the Nehru Cup a tournament organized by the All India Football Federation since 1982.[1] It was the first Nehru Cup after a ten-year break from 1997 to 2007.[2]

2007 ONGC Nehru Cup
Tournament details
Host countryIndia
Dates17–29 August
Teams5 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions India (1st title)
Runners-up Syria
Tournament statistics
Matches played11
Goals scored41 (3.73 per match)
Top scorer(s)Syria Zyad Chaabo (5 goals)
1997
2009

The tournament was played in the round-robin league format and the final was slated for 29 August in which India defeated Syria to claim its first title.[3][4] Along with the host nation India, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Syria and Kyrgyzstan also competed in the 13-day tournament at the refurbished Ambedkar Stadium, where new floodlights had been put up specially for this tournament.[5][6]

The total prize money of the tournament was $100,000. The champion team takes away a prize of $40,000, the runners-up receive $20,000 while the third place team will get $10,000. The winning team of every match received $2,500.[7]

Discussion edit

The Nehru Cup campaign started with an Indian 6–0 victory over the less experienced Cambodian side. India's Sunil Chhetri and Steven Dias had a great game, each of them netting twice. Baichung Bhutia had produced a wonderful performance in the match. Most of the game was played on the Cambodian side of the pitch. It was expected that India was going to take this one and they did with their second biggest recorded victory. Steven Dias was "Man of the match".

 
2007 ONGC Nehru Cup India vs Syria

Syria started this tournament with a 2–0 victory over Bangladesh, followed by three consecutive wins over Kyrgyzstan, hosts India and Cambodia. The four wins saw Syria topping the round-roubin standings with a perfect record of 12 out of 12 points. They experienced Syrian side was led by their best goalscorers Zyad Chaabo, who scored 5 out of 14 goals for his team and Maher Al Sayed with four goals.

Hosts India, after beating Cambodia, enjoyed another win over neighbouring Bangladesh. After losing to Syria, the decisive game for the second final spot was held between the Indian team and Kyrgyzstan. India won that game 3–0 and advanced. The goals were scored by the Indian forwards Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri and Abhishek Yadav. This defeat saw the Central Asian side finishing third, while Bangladesh and Cambodia finished fourth and fifth place respectively having played a 1 all draw in their game.

The Nehru Cup final between India and Syria was held on 29 August 2007 in New Delhi. India defeated their opponents 1–0 thanks to a goal from N. P. Pradeep and won their first ever Nehru Cup trophy. The Indian team received 40,000 US-Dollar for winning this tournament.

All games of the tournament were broadcast live by Zee Sports.[8]

Matches and results edit

Group stage edit

Teams in green field progress to the Final.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
  Syria 4 4 0 0 14 4 +10 12 Final
  India 4 3 0 1 12 3 +9 9
  Kyrgyzstan 4 2 0 2 8 10 −2 6
  Bangladesh 4 0 1 3 1 7 −6 1
  Cambodia 4 0 1 3 5 16 −11 1
Source: RSSSF
India  6–0  Cambodia
Pradeep   16'
Bhutia   45+2' (pen.)
Dias   72', 89'
Chhetri   82', 84'
(Report)
Referee: Pepera Hetti Kamkanamge

Bangladesh  0–2  Syria
(Report) Al Sayed   48'
Chaabo   79'
Referee: A. Arjunan (India)

Kyrgyzstan  4–3  Cambodia
Samsaliev   12'
Mamatov   17'
Djamshidov   48'
Harchenko   65'
(Report) Sotitya   34'
Rithy   40'
Chum   43'
Referee: Srinivasan Suresh (India)

India  1–0  Bangladesh
Bhutia   5' (Report)
Referee: Sikhrakar Surendra (Nepal)

Syria  4–1  Kyrgyzstan
Al Sayed   7'
Chaabo   44'
Al Zeno   70'
Al Hasan   82'
(Report) Diab   13' (o.g.)
Referee: Srinivasan Suresh (India)

Bangladesh  1–1  Cambodia
Abul   30' (Report) Kasal   90'
Referee: A. Arjunan (India)

India  2–3  Syria
Chhetri   13'
Ajayan   81'
(Report) Al Baba   23'
Chaabo   45+1', 65'
Referee: Sikhrakar Surendra (Nepal)

Bangladesh  0–3  Kyrgyzstan
(Report) Lutfullaev   28', 54'
Djamshidov   57'
Referee: Srinivasan Suresh (India)

Cambodia  1–5  Syria
Vathanak   69' (Report) Al Zeno   25'
Chaabo   35'
Al Sayed   51', 86'
Jenyat   80'
Referee: Pepera Hetti Kamkanamge (Sri Lanka)

India  3–0  Kyrgyzstan
Bhutia   39'
Chhetri   60'
Yadav   90+3'
(Report)
Referee: Sikhrakar Surendra (Nepal)

Final edit

India  1–0  Syria
Pradeep   44' (Report)
Referee: Sikhrakar Surendra (Nepal)

Winners edit

 2007 Nehru Cup champion 
 
India

First title

Statistics edit

Goalscorers edit

There were 41 goals scored in 11 matches, for an average of 3.73 goals per match.

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Man of the Match edit

References edit

  1. ^ ":::: THE AIFF ::::". Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  2. ^ "ONGC revives Nehru Cup after 10 years". ONGC. 9 August 2007.
  3. ^ "India script history, lift Nehru Cup for first time". 30 August 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  4. ^ "Nehru Cup Victory : Moment To Cherish For Indian Football Fans". syndication.bleacherreport.com. Bharanithar. 10 September 2009. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  5. ^ "ONGC Nehru Cup - goalzz.com". Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
  6. ^ "Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi". Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  7. ^ "ONGC NEHRU CUP 2007 : Indian Football Capital's News". Archived from the original on 6 November 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  8. ^ "IndianFootball.Com - Indian football on TV". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2012.

External links edit

  • Details at kolkatafootball.com
  • Details at RSSSF
  • Details at futbolplanet.de
  • Details at goalzz.com
  • Details at indianfootball.com