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
Ali Daei of Iran holds the record with 109 goals from 149 matches. Sunil Chhetri has 90 goals to his name.
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.
Chhetri had shown sparks of his old ebullient self in the Intercontinental Cup final against Lebanon at Odisha on Sunday.
And the Indian skipper stepped on the pedal on his ‘home turf’.
After getting a quick feel of the surface and their opponents, India started the goal rush as early.
As in the 10th minute through Chhetri, who netted through a fine field goal.
Six minutes later, the talismanic forward doubled the lead through a penalty and at 2-0, the route which the match took was clear.
It was a sumptuous performance by India that thrilled the 22860-strong crowd that thronged the stadium despite a heavy downpour. India will next face minnows Nepal in their second Group A match on Saturday.