Sunil Chhetri’s glittering hat-trick laced India’s 4-0 win over Pakistan in their SAFF Championship opener here on Wednesday as the talisman became the second-highest Asian goal-scorer in international football.
The high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan saw a scuffle break out between the two nations in the first half while the hosts were in total command of the contest in Bengaluru. While the Indian coach was sent off, his team did manage to get the better of the opposition as they thrashed Pakistan 4-0 with Sunil Chhetri scoring a hat-trick
Under rainy conditions in Bengaluru, India took an early lead through skipper Sunil Chhetri after he scored in the 10th minute of the contest. Things did not go according to plan for Pakistan as they conceded a penalty in the 15th minute as Chhetri stepped up to score his second of the contest. He looked in great nick of form to become the second-highest scorer in Asia with 90 goals. Only Ali Daei with 109 goals has scored more goals than Chhetri in Asia.
From the beginning of the match itself, India brought forth their experience and class into play. Pakistan had pockets of doughty resistance, but they were not a match to India’s cohesion and purpose on a rain-drenched night at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
Having already won the Intercontinental Cup a few days ago, India carried on their form in the SAFF Championship. The first of their success came when the Pakistani goalkeeper made a big error in losing the ball in front of the box with Indian skipper Chhetri waiting for his chance. The Indian captain got the ball to put it past the keeper and send India 1-0. Moments later, Chhetri converted the 1-0 lead to a 2-0 with a penalty strike.
However, there was a bit of a scuffle in the match as the Pakistan players and the Indian head coach Igor Stimac confronted each other in the first half. The opening half ended with India 2-0.
In the second half too, India did not put the pedal off the gas. They pushed for more chances and Sunil Chhetri received yet another penalty with an attack from a Pakistan player in the box. Chhetri maximized the chance to put India 3-0 up with his 90th International Goal. Later, Udanta Singh managed to keep them away from offside and he put another past the goalkeeper to kill the game 4-0.
The Indian team will now face Nepal in the second game of the tournament on June 24, followed by the final league game of the hosts against Kuwait on June 27.