India

SAFF Meet: India Thrash Pakistan 4-0 As Sunil Chhetri Fires Hat-Trick

By
OB Bureau

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.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

3 Odisha Cops Get Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak For Excellence In Crime Investigation

Bhubaneswar: Three police officers from Odisha have been awarded Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak-2024 for their exceptional…

November 13, 2024

Goods Train Derails In Telangana; Check Trains Affected On Odisha Route

Hyderabad: Rail traffic between Delhi and Chennai was severely disrupted after 11 wagons of a goods…

November 13, 2024

Devotees Throng Dhabaleswar Temple In Odisha’s Athagarh On Bada Osa; Know Its Significance

Cuttack: Dhabaleswar temple in an island of Mahanadi near Mancheswar village under Athagarh block on…

November 13, 2024

In Rush For Selfies, Mithun Chakraborty’s Wallet Stolen At BJP Election Rally

Dhanbad: Mithun Chakraborty had his wallet stolen while he was campaigning for the Jharkhand Assembly…

November 13, 2024

Blood-Soaked Body Of Former Sarpanch Found In Odisha’s Bhadrak

Bhadrak: Former sarpanch of Bandhagaon panchayat in Odisha's Bhadrak district was allegedly hacked to death…

November 13, 2024

Bulldozer Action: No Demolition Without 15-Day Notice; Check Supreme Court Guidelines

New Delhi: No demolition should be carried out without 15-day notice to the owner of…

November 13, 2024

Jharkhand Votes Today, Security Tightened In Bordering Districts Of Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Jhakhand saw 13.04% voting by 9 am on Wednesday in 43 seats, which are…

November 13, 2024

Trump Names Elon Musk & Vivek Ramaswamy To Head ‘Government Efficiency’ Dept

Washington: Elon Musk has been richly rewarded for strongly backing Donald Trump in his election campaign.…

November 13, 2024