Bengaluru: Three days after lifting the Intercontinental Cup at Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium, India began their campaign in the SAFF Championship with a thumping 4-0 victory over Pakistan at Kanteerava Stadium here on a rain-drenched Wednesday night.
Talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri scored 3 of those goals, while winger Udanta Singh netted one.
The 38-year-old Chhetri thus took his tally of international goals to 90, as he became the second-highest Asian goal-scorer behind Iran’s Ali Daei (109).
Chhetri, who had scored in Sunday’s Intercontinental Cup final against Lebanon too, found the mark early tonight, in the 10th minute.
Chhetri doubled his and the team’s tally by converting a penalty in the 16th minute.
Chhetri earned another penalty for India half an hour into the second session, as he was brought down inside the box. Chhetri himself walked up and scored coolly to complete his hat-trick.
Udanta added to the miseries for Pakistan, who arrived this morning only following some visa issues.
Collecting a Sandesh Jhingan through pass, Udanta sped down the field and slotted the ball past the Pakistan goalkeeper.
It was a great result for the Blue Tigers, with the only blot being a red card being shown to coach Igor Stimac late in the first half when he tried to block a Pakistan player from taking a throw-in.
