Bhutia to miss crucial tie

Margao:

India's star striker Baichung Bhutia, recuperating from a knee operation, will miss the crucial return tie against North Korea in the Asian Cup preliminary round to be held on Sunday at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda. The Indian team, which lost 0-2 against North Korea in the away match, had a practice session last evening without Bhutia and defender Debjit Ghosh, who is suffering from a viral infection. Indian coach Stephen Constantine conceded that the "absence of Bhutia will be felt greatly as his experience would have made a difference. He is a fox in the box". "The Koreans are a good side and it will be difficult to beat them as they have an advantage, having won against us in the away match and need just a draw to progress further," the coach said. "They will employ more men in the defence and invite us to attack them and will try to make counter moves. The first 15 minutes will be crucial. If we succeed in scoring then we have a good chance of winning the match," Constantine added. (PTI)