SAFF Suzuki Cup: After win over Sri Lanka, India set to face Nepal

It was a thoroughly dominant performance by the Indian national football team on Friday, 25 December, as they eased past Sri Lanka by a scoreline of 2-0 at the Trivandrum International Stadium in their opening game of the SAFF Suzuki Cup.

On Sunday, India will face neighbours Nepal in their final group stage encounter, which will decide the semifinal fate of the three teams in the group. The two teams have faced each other on three occasions this year, with India winning one and drawing the other two games.

Nepal, on the other hand, last beat India in 2013 in the previous edition of the SAFF Championship, which was held in Kathmandu. This time, both sides have slightly depleted teams.

Some key Indian players are out with injuries after the Indian Super League season, while Nepal will miss some key internationals as well, with the latter being suspended following a major match-fixing scandal.

The permutations

Both India and Sri Lanka have three points each, although the Lankans have played both their group games. A draw or an Indian win here will ensure progression of both the teams to the semifinals.

On the other hand, for Nepal to progress, a win will be enough to move to the semis. However, a win by a margin of more than two goals will knock India out.