BENGALURU: It was like a match-up between the top seed and a qualifier in a Grand Slam as India coasted to an emphatic 4-0 win against a jet-lagged Pakistan team. The only blemish was the red card to coach Igor Stimac in what was otherwise a dominating performance by the hosts at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Wednesday.
Skipper Sunil Chhetri’s hat-trick, two of those being generous gifts, and a fourth from speedy winger Udanta Singh, meant India continued their fine run following their triumph at the Intercontinental Cup in Bhubaneswar.
It would take Chhetri’s tally to 90 international goals.
Despite the 0-4 scoreline, credit should go to the Pakistan team for taking the field and putting up a decent fight
against an in-form India after landing here earlier in the day in two batches.
There was no time for training or practice as the team arrived at the stadium before the mandatory cut-off time of 6
pm for the 7:30 pm start.
It was Chhetri who began the merciless assault as he grabbed a freebie from Pakistan goalkeeper Saqib Hanif who spilled the ball in front of the striker who wasted no time in opening the account.
The second goal came six minutes later — this time Chhetri faced a slightly tougher task of beating the goalkeeper from the spot.
There was no let-up in action despite heavy rain in the second half but the match was interrupted three times in
the second half by fans invading the pitch to greet Chhetri.
It was the Indian skipper Chhetri again who fetched the third goal for the hosts as he completed his hat-trick and
his 90th international goal. His understudy Udanta Singh added a fourth in 81st minute as Pakistan struggled to
keep pace with the Indians.
Kuwait down Nepal
Earlier, last edition’s runners-up Nepal crashed to a 1-3 defeat against Kuwait in the opening match.
Both teams took their time to get used to the conditions, a steady drizzle adding to their challenge, before Kuwait went ahead in the 23rd minute.
RESULTS (Group A)
India 4 (Chhetri 10', 16', 74'; Udanta 81') beat Pakistan 0
Kuwait 3 (Khaled Hajiah 23', Shabaib Al Khaldi 41', Mohammed Abdullah 65') beat Nepal (Anjan Bista 68')
(AI image)
