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Rediff.com  » Sports » Bayern rout India in Bhutia's farewell match

Bayern rout India in Bhutia's farewell match

Source: PTI
January 10, 2012 20:45 IST
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German giants Bayern Munich expectedly thrashed the Indian national team 4-0 in Bhaichung Bhutia's farewell match, which had little in quality, in Delhi on Tuesday.

Around 35,000 spectators watched the match at the floodlit Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, but the national team, led for the last time by Bhutia, was no match for the highly-fancied German side, which had overwhelming ball possession and did most of the attacking.

Bhutia, Indian football's poster boy for 16 years since he made his international debut in 1995, played for 85 minutes before being replaced by C S Sabeeth and walking back to a standing ovation from the crowd.

All the Indian players shook his hand, as did some Bayern players, as he made his way to the bench.

Bayern captain Phillip Lahm presents Bhutia his team's jersey before the start of the matchBayern, four-time UEFA Champions League winners, scored through Mario Gomez (14th minute), Thomas Mueller (29th and 37th) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (43rd).

The German side started with their first eleven players, except Franck Ribery, and toyed with the Indians, attacking almost at will. The Indians were content with defending their citadel without having a single clear shy at the opposition goal.

Coach Jupp Heynckes made several changes in his side at the beginning of the second half, including Arjen Robben, Philipp Lahm and Thomas Mueller, while India brought in striker Jeje Lalpekhlua in place Sushil Kumar.

Climax Lawrence came in place of Rocus Lamare while Subhashish Roy Chowdhury replaced Karanjit under the bar.

With most of the first team players at the bench, Bayern could not score in the second half with Indian goalie Subhashish also bringing some fine saves.

Bayern, who are Bundesliga first phase leaders, made their attacking moves most of the time from the left flank, through either captain Philipp Lahm or Bastian Schweinsteiger, and right of the field through the nippy Arjen Robben, with Thomas Mueller and Mario Gomez upfront.

Bayern took the lead through a Mario Gomez strike, the Bundesliga leading scorer tapping in an Arjen Robben pass from inside the eight-yard box past India goalkeeper Karanjit Singh.

Mueller struck twice in the space of eight minutes, first nodding home without any challenge near the far post, off a cross from the right by Robben in the 29th minute, before slotting home again from an assist by Gomez in the 37th minute.

Two minutes from half-time, Bayern made it 4-0 with Schweinsteiger unleashing a stinging right-footer from a pass by Gomez that curled into the net after beating Indian goalie Karanjit all ends up.

The second half saw some attacking intent from India without having any clear chance, with Jeje in the thick of things a few times.

India forced a corner and a few free-kicks though they did not seriously threaten Bayern goalkeeper Mannuel Neuer.

Substitute Jewel Raja Sheikh had a go at the German goal late in the second half but Neuer parried the effort.

That was the only instance of an Indian on target in the match.

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