Karachi: A goal in each half gave India a 2-0 victory over defending champions Bangladesh in the SAFF Football Championship final under the Peoples's Football Stadium floodlights in Karachi on Saturday.
Mehrajuddin Wadoo scored the first goal for India after 33 minutes with star striker Bhaichung Bhutia putting the issue beyond doubt in the 79th minute to give India their fourth title.
Wadoo made full use of a melee inside the Bangladeshi box to find the net following a right wing cross by former Indian skipper and midfielder Venkatesh Shanmuganathan.
But before Wadoo scored the opener, India should have gone on the score-sheet when striker Rahim Nabi and then midfielder Climax Lawrence failed to give finishing touches to a brilliant move.
A minute later, Ajayan should have got the goal after a solo breakaway but his feeble kick missed the target.
The title victory also added another feather to the cap of coach Syed Naeemuddin who won his second SAFF gold after he earlier coached India to glory in the 1997 event in which Charlton Chapman's team defeated Maldives 5-1 in Kathmandu.
It was India's 10th victory over Bangladesh who are left with just three victories in 20 meetings.
Launched at Lahore's Railway Stadium in 1993 as SAARC Gold Cup, the championship is know as the SAFF Championship since 1997.
The championship is held biannually to promote the development of football in South Asia and India have clinched the title in 1993, 1997 and 1999.
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