History is Made!  

10:50PM. Bangalore

India have rewritten history books with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over defending champions Tajikistan in the AFC Challenge Cup 2008 at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi in what is being hailed as the golden hour of Indian Football.

A goal from captain Baichung Bhutia and a brilliant hat-trick by local boy Sunil Chhetri sealed a glorious win for the men in blue. Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev scored a consolation goal for the Tajiks.

The win came in some style, with India scoring three goals within the first 22 minutes to put the match to bed. Both teams played a solid attacking game with plenty of chances on and off target and three shots finding the woodwork. There was never a dull moment in the game as the first goal, which initially seemed to have come under controversial circumstances, proved to be a shot in the arm for the Tajiks.

After the whirlwind first half in which Chhetri scored twice, Bhutia once and Fatkhuloev brought one back, the Tajiks continued to pile on the pressure to keep the game interesting right till the 75th minute, when Chhetri put away his third and India's fourth goal and finished the game off.

The match was a hard-fought affair with a few edgy moments - Bhutia was elbowed in the teeth and had to be taken off with a bloodied face. However, the Uzbekistani referee Valentin Kovalenko had a flawless game and ensured that the football remained free-flowing, opting to use a stern word rather than a card in most cases.

The quality of football at display was decidedly lower than what is displayed by higher-ranked and better teams from Europe and rest of the world. Nonetheless, as a contest it was top-notch - great footballing moments in an exciting match. The goals were all quality affairs, reminiscent of some scored in the best leagues in the world.

India have now qualified for the Asian Cup Finals to be held in Qatar in 2011 alongwith Tajikistan and DPR North Korea, who finished third in the tournament. Indian coach, former Fulham player Bob Houghton, has an excellent record with the men in blue with 29 matches and 15 wins. This is his second major trophy with India after the victory in the Nehru Cup in Aug last year.

It's celebration time once again for football in India. The Indian cricket team have been thrashed in Sri Lanka and this victory should bring to the forefront, new sporting heroes for youngsters in the country, the likes of Bhutia, Chhetri, Dias, Pal and more.