New Delhi, Aug 23 - Indian skipper Bhaichung Bhutia celebrated his 100th international appearance in style, slotting home a goal in India's 2-1 victory over Kyrgyzstan in the ONGC Nehru Cup football at the Ambedkar stadium here Sunday evening.

After having lost 0-1 to Lebanon in the opening match, India showed the urgency in front of a near capacity crowd and kept the hopes alive of defending their title.

India took the lead a minute before the half-time through Bhutia's shot that hit the far post and rolled into the net. Sunil Chettri doubled the lead in the 58th minute with a penalty kick after goalkeeper Matiash Pavel pulled down Bhutia in the box.

But it was goalkeeper Subrata Paul's outstanding display that saved India from splitting the points with the 160th ranked Kyrgyzstan.

Paul stood rock solid manning the goalpost and even saved a penalty kick. The only ball that went past him was when substitute Murzaev Mirlan dodged Anwar and Gourmangi Singh to score Kyrgyzstan's solitary goal in the last minute of the match.

Paul made some brilliant saves in the second half and single-handedly made up for the lacklustre performance of experienced defenders Dipak Mondal and Mahesh Gawli, whose return failed to put the house in order.

The highlight of Paul's effort was when just before the hour mark, he dived to his right to thwart Mirzaliev Almabek penalty kick.

India started well in what was a must-win game for the title-holders. They showed the desire to win right from the start. Right-winger Steven Dias kept feeding the Bhutia-Chettri pair with perfect crosses in the Kyrgyzstan box.

Though India had to wait nearly till the breather to open their account, they played a fast game to prise open the Kyrgyzstan defence on numerous occasions.

India could have got the lead in the sixth minute but N.