Indian coach Bob Houghton (L) and team captain Baichung Bhutia.

GOUVEIA: AFC Challenge Cup 2008 hosts India began their 12-day training-cum-exposure trip of Portugal with a 2-0 victory over Gouveia Select in this mountain city recently.

India dominated the first half and Climax Lawrence drew the first blood for Bob Houghton’s charges in the 31st minute.

Sunil Chhetri also found the net in the 42nd minute only to be ruled offside. The hosts gained momentum and mounted several attacks in search of an equaliser but Tarif Ahmed’s strike in the 85th seal the victory for India.

India were drawn in Group A along side defending champions Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan in the AFC Challenge Cup and will begin their campaign against Afghanistan on July 30.

The South Asians were placed in Group C for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup final round qualifiers along with Uzbekistan, UAE and Malaysia.