The intent was clear right from the start - go for goals. And India carried out the task without any hitches as the defending champions thrashed Bhutan 5-0 in a Group A match of the SAFF Championship at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Monday. After escaping with a draw in their opening match against Afghanistan, Savio Medeira's men took their weak opponents by the scruff of their neck, with Clifford Miranda and Sunil Chhetri scoring a brace each. Syed Rahim Nabi had one goal to his name.

India made two changes in their starting line-up with Anthony Pereira replacing Steven Dias in right-midfield and Nirmal Chhetri coming in place of right- back Samir Naik.Bhutan hardly had anything up their sleeves to stop the Indians, for whom the higher goal difference will definitely be an advantage as they now need only a draw against Sri Lanka in their next match to make it to the last-four stage.

The display of the Indian midfield was a pleasant change from the dismal show they put up in the previous match, with Nabi regularly coming upfront from his left-back position. He saw as many as three chances squandered due to offside rulings before finding the opener in the 29th minute when he headed in a corner- kick from Miranda at the far post.

Bhutan, who were playing with just one striker Sonam Tenzin, couldn't challenge the Indian defence even once. Rather it was Miranda and Nabi who repeatedly put the Bhutan defence under pressure. Miranda scored his first in the 44th minute with a powerful leftfooter from inside the box. In the 57th minute, he got his second to make it 3-0.

In the 68th minute, it was Sunil Chhetri's turn to make it to the scorers' list when he tapped in a corner from Miranda. Medeira made two changes with Lalrindika Ralte and Jewel Raja Sheikh coming in place of Miranda and captain Climax Lawrence respectively. And the pace only increased in the centre of the field.

Sunil Chhetri completed the demolition, in the 84th minute with a solo effort from middle of the field and finding the net with a right-footer. The scoreline could have more but for the missed chances, and that is an aspect Medeira would want his boys to improve upon. But for the moment the coach was a relieved man.

"There were a lot of misses but then the victory is more important. Even a one-goal win is a win and here we have got five," he said. Medeira said he had made two changes in the starting line-up as players neeeded rest. "Samir (Naik) was injured and I wanted to give a rest to Steven (Dias)," he said. "With match on alternate days I have to give players rest and so Steven was rested and brought in Anthony Pereira in the starting line-up."

Afghans defeat Lanka Two days after restricting India to a 1-1 draw, Afghanistan consolidated their position in the tournament with a stunning 3-1 win over Sri Lanka. They now need a draw their next match against Bhutan to enter the semi-finals. After conceding a 17th-minute goal from Sri Lanka"s Mi Mohamed, Afghanistan took hold of the proceeding and equalised five minutes later through Sanjar Ahmadi. The 19-year-old striker got his second in the 22nd minute and a 79th-minute strike from Ata Mohammad Yamir Ali sealed the win.