The two semi-finals of the SAFF cup football tournament in New Delhi at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, on Friday carried two different tales. In the first semi-final five times champions India in a vastly improved performance defeated their bugbear Maldives 3-1 to enter their third successive final. But the interesting semi-final was between Afghanistan and Nepal. Afghanistan makes history in the SAFF cup by qualifying for the semi-final and now beats Nepal 1-0 to clash with India at the finals.

Afghanistan qualified for their maiden final with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Nepal in the other semi-final through an extra-time goal by their Norway-based striker Belal Arezou. A back-heel by Sanjar Ahmadi set up Arezou, who made an excellent sprint from the centre-half, muscled past the Nepalese defense and slotted it in.

In the first semi-final, Team India was impressive and pressed hard right from the start. They should have scored much earlier than their live-wire wing-back Syed Rahim Nabi did in the 23rd minute. India struck a second time through Sunil Chettri from a penalty and he scored again in the injury time. He is now the leading scorer with six goals. The third one came from Chettri, the local boy, scored his second goal in the injury time latching on to a through ball from Jeje. Chettri dodged past the defenders and shot it past the onrushing goalkeeper to end the game in style for India.

So it is the five times champions versus the final debutants at the SAFF 2011 on Sunday. The result is most unexpected as Afghanistan team has reached the final with excellent game ploy while India has just awakened to the games in the last game against Maldives. Till then the hosts were struggling but remain winners. So much is expected on the final day.