India vs Vanuatu LIVE Scores and Updates, Intercontinental Cup: India Sink Vanuatu, IND 1-0 VUT

FULL TIME!

India have done it.

The Blue Tigers beat Vanuatu 1-0 at the Kalinga Stadium to seal their place in the final of the intercontinental cup.

Skipper Sunil Chhetri’s lone strike was enough to send the home crowd in delirium as he volleyed a powerful strike into the back of the net after 85 minutes of play.

IND 1-0 VUT

Not long to go now as India are almost there.

Can they hold on?

Chhetri is withdrawn and replaced by the fresh legs of Rahim.

OFF- Chhetri.

ON- Rahin

GOAL!

Sunil Chhetri has done it.

A delightful cross in from the left is chested down by the captain before he unleashes a ferocious left-footed volley into the net to send the Kalinga Stadium into a roar.

IND 1-0 VUT

India throwing everything at the Vanuatu side hoping to dig out a goal.

We head into the final quarter-hour of the game and the scoreboard still hasn’t moved.

Despite a number of chances created by the home side, the Indian team hasn’t managed to make it count.

Will that change?

Nandakumar, who has worked incredibly hard on his debut is withdrawn in favour of the incoming Chhangte.

OFF- Nandakumar.

ON- Chhangte.

Igor Stimac decides to make three substitutions in order to bring about a change in the scoreline.

OFF- Liston, Rohit, Rowlin

ON- Thapa, Samad, Jeakson

Mahesh swings a lovely cross into the box to put the ball on a platter for Chhetri in the centre.

However, the skipper is thrown off his stride as the keeper comes out of the line to clear it.

The keeper misses the ball completely and Chhetri can’t adjust his position in time to put the ball into the net.

Huge let-off for Vanuatu.

Chhetri does brilliantly in the edge of the area as he dummies a couple of defenders before rolling the ball back to Liston, who decides to shoot first time.

But his shot is blocked by the defender in front of him and the play goes on.

Chhetri tries to get on the scoresheet as he goes surging upfield.

He ghosts past a defender and sees some space leading into the danger area.

He runs hard, but the last defender picks the ball off him in the nick of time.

India have started the second half in the same ilk as they did the first.

Pressing high up and looking to force the Vanuatu players into a mistake when on the ball.

But, the Vanuatu back line isn’t taking any chances and manages to clear the danger.

SECOND HALF!

Vanuatu get the ball rolling after the break.

Will either team manage to open the scoring in the second period of the game at the glorious Kalinga Stadium?

IND 0-0 VUT

HALF TIME!

The referee brings the first period to a close and the deadlock is still not broken.

The teams head into the dressing rooms all level after the first 45 minutes.

IND 0-0 VUT

The fourth official signals for four minutes of time to be added on for stoppages before the half time break.

Can India get ahead before the interval?

IND 0-0 VUT

Mahesh does brilliantly on the left flank to beat a defender and deliver a beauty of a cross into the Chhetri waiting in the area.

The captain doesn’t manage to connect the header as he would have liked and his shot flies askew.

Another big chance goes begging.

Nandakumar is played into the box thanks to a brilliant through ball.

The winger does well to latch onto the ball and gets a shot away.

But, his attempt is just wide of the post.

IND 0-0 VUT

Nandakumar is played into the box thanks to a brilliant through ball.

The winger does well to latch onto the ball and gets a shot away.

But, his attempt is just wide of the post.

IND 0-0 VUT

India work a throw in from the right to the feet of Liston waiting at the edge of the box.

The 24-year-old turns well and gets a shot away as he tests the Vanuatu keeper, who blocks the ball and curls up to hold on to the spillage off the block to keep it out of the reach from the prying Indian attack.

Jonathan paces down the right wing and is provided with the ball as the player sidesteps an onrushing Indian defender on the edge of the box.

He tries to get in a cross with the outside of the boot, but it lands in between his teammates lurking in the box and is played out of trouble by the Indian back line.