<p>India were held to a 0-0 draw by a resurgent Nepal in the Nehru Cup football tournament at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The result left India with seven points and gave Nepal their first and both have a league match left to play.<br /><br />The skies opened once again on Tuesday and the heavy downpour soon gave way to persistent drizzle. <br /><br />The match, delayed by half an hour, however, progressed undeterred on a water-soaked field. India made two changes, bringing in Denzil Franco for Nirmal Chhetri and Anthony Pereira for Sanju Pradhan. <br /><br />Nepal, who were pummeled 5-0 by Cameroon on Sunday, showed better skills on the slushy field and stitched some fine moves with short passes. Their mid-field was taut and regularly fed the strikers. The Indian defenders toiled hard to save a series of breaches.<br />Bhola Siwal nearly opened Nepal’s account in the early minutes with a menacing cross from right but Gourmangi Singh cleared it with a timely header. <br /><br />It was soon followed by three successive corners but India did well to keep the danger at bay.<br /><br />The hosts tried to claw their way in the last few minutes of the first half. Pereira’s sent a precise cross to Francis Fernandes inside the box, whose volley was blocked by Sagar Thapa.<br /><br />India began the second half by substituting Robin Singh for Clifford Miranda. They looked a galvanised lot in the second half but a goal continued to elude them.<br /><br />They had a good chance when Periera, on being fed by Chhetri on the run, went for a shot at the goal but it was well-saved by goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong.<br /><br />India made its second substitution 13 minutes from time. Jewel Raja replaced Lenny Rodrigues, who looked completely off-colour.<br /><br />Immediate impact<br /><br />Raja, however, made an immediate impact. He dribbled past Sagar Thapa before firing the balll goal-bound which was parried away by Chemjong for a corner.<br />Soon, there was another attack from India. Raja and Robin shot at the goal in succession but were once again denied by Chemjong.<br /><br />Nepal were down to ten men in the 90th minute after Bikash Chhetri was shown a red card for dissent but they defended resolutely during the three minutes of injury time with a passionate Nepalese crowd firmly behind them.<br />India now play Cameroon on Friday.<br /></p>
<p>India were held to a 0-0 draw by a resurgent Nepal in the Nehru Cup football tournament at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The result left India with seven points and gave Nepal their first and both have a league match left to play.<br /><br />The skies opened once again on Tuesday and the heavy downpour soon gave way to persistent drizzle. <br /><br />The match, delayed by half an hour, however, progressed undeterred on a water-soaked field. India made two changes, bringing in Denzil Franco for Nirmal Chhetri and Anthony Pereira for Sanju Pradhan. <br /><br />Nepal, who were pummeled 5-0 by Cameroon on Sunday, showed better skills on the slushy field and stitched some fine moves with short passes. Their mid-field was taut and regularly fed the strikers. The Indian defenders toiled hard to save a series of breaches.<br />Bhola Siwal nearly opened Nepal’s account in the early minutes with a menacing cross from right but Gourmangi Singh cleared it with a timely header. <br /><br />It was soon followed by three successive corners but India did well to keep the danger at bay.<br /><br />The hosts tried to claw their way in the last few minutes of the first half. Pereira’s sent a precise cross to Francis Fernandes inside the box, whose volley was blocked by Sagar Thapa.<br /><br />India began the second half by substituting Robin Singh for Clifford Miranda. They looked a galvanised lot in the second half but a goal continued to elude them.<br /><br />They had a good chance when Periera, on being fed by Chhetri on the run, went for a shot at the goal but it was well-saved by goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong.<br /><br />India made its second substitution 13 minutes from time. Jewel Raja replaced Lenny Rodrigues, who looked completely off-colour.<br /><br />Immediate impact<br /><br />Raja, however, made an immediate impact. He dribbled past Sagar Thapa before firing the balll goal-bound which was parried away by Chemjong for a corner.<br />Soon, there was another attack from India. Raja and Robin shot at the goal in succession but were once again denied by Chemjong.<br /><br />Nepal were down to ten men in the 90th minute after Bikash Chhetri was shown a red card for dissent but they defended resolutely during the three minutes of injury time with a passionate Nepalese crowd firmly behind them.<br />India now play Cameroon on Friday.<br /></p>
