FULHAM 2 INDIA 0 Saturday 22nd July 2000

BY THE BANKS OF THE SPARKLING RIVER THAMES on a scorching July afternoon, footballing history has just been made. Stevenage Road is awash with the rich orange and green of the Indian flag, and Craven Cottage's old red brick facade is the unlikely backdrop for soccer's cultural revolution. On the Putney Terrace, bathed in bright sunshine under a clear blue sky, hundreds of dharma chakras flutter bravely in the slight breeze that provides a welcome relief from the heat, and the golden boy of Indian football, Baichung Bhutia, makes his way to the players' tunnel. Baichung Bhutia attempts a scissor kick

Karlheinz Riedle heads towards goal Fulham have beaten India here this afternoon with two goals from experienced German international Karlheinz Riedle. Sweeping in the first just before half time after four attempts were blocked by the resolute Indian defence and then, as India's dreams of a momentous victory dwindled in the mid-afternoon sunshine, pouncing upon a mistake by goalkeeper and defender to seal the tie. In all honesty, Fulham were always on top in this game - they enjoyed the lion's share of the possession and never moved out of cruise control all afternoon.

Yet India can take a lot from the match, not least the stubborness of their four defenders - Prabhjot Singh, Mahesh Gawli, Daljit Singh and Roberto Fernandes - all playing in front of the agile stand-in goalkeeper Virender Singh - when faced with the sharpness of Riedle and the power of Kevin Betsy. The Indians' impressive rearguard action however did not make for an exciting time up front where Bury's Bhutia met up again with JCT Mills strike partner I.M. Vijayan, only to be denied a clear run on goal all afternoon by a formidable team of Chris Coleman and Andy Melville. India's fans gather behind the goal

Fernandes and Vijayan keep Fulham at bay In 1997 and at the climax of the Philips Indian National Football League's first season, Bhutia bagged a hat-trick in addition to Vijayan's one as JCT won the first ever league championship on the sub-continent. And although there was never any chance of that sort of goalscoring today, perhaps the game showed just what Bury are missing out on by extending Bhutia's absence from the Gigg Lane teamsheet. After only four minutes of the match, Bhutia's threaded pass was collected by Vijayan inside the box before he shot India into what could have been a valuable lead. Even though the linesman's flag denied Vijayan the honour of scoring India's first goal on the tour, Fulham were aware of the threat posed by Bhutia's awareness and craft.

The disallowed effort brought a roar from London's Indian community who had turned out in their thousands to see the game, so imagine the clamour when Bhutia absorbed a ball in from the left before twisting into the air, lashing a spectacular scissor kick just over the crossbar. It was the type of skill which only graces the Premiership every so often, never mind Gigg Lane. And, given his rather humble stature in the Shakers set-up where he is branded unfit and unprepared, it is difficult to understand the role played by Bhutia in the national side. As captain, he instructs, points, shouts, motivates his teammates, all of whom are domestic players - not used to the style of game played by English teams. Baichung Bhutia MAY have been lacking fitness last term, but then Mr. Motivator hasn't scored 25 goals in 40 international appearances. More goalmouth action as Fulham pile on the pressure

Bhutia and Coleman emerge from another duel By the end of a hard fought match though, Fulham were just too good. A team containing Brevett, Symons, Coleman, Goldbaek, Lee Clark, Kevin Ball, Riedle and John Collins was a tough test for India in their first game, and while the tourists showed they were capable of handing out some crunching challenges in the second half, their resoluteness in defence was not matched by a touch of magic up front which most of the five thousand inside Craven Cottage hoped for - Indian and Fulham fans alike. For all the photographs from the game and in full size, go to the gallery. India play West Brom on Wednesday 26th July and Bangladesh on Saturday 29th July.