Red-Hot Sunil Chhetri Fires India To Intercontinental Cup Glory 1

If the start to the tournament was spectacular for India when the Blue Tigers rode on Sunil Chhetri’s stunning hat-trick to thrash Chinese Taipei 5-0, then the finish has been even better. The script wore a similar look to the first game as India’s captain fantastic once again led the show, scoring a first-half brace to make his team the Intercontinental Cup champions.

The game had a lively start with both the teams getting chances early on. The deadlock was finally broken in the eighth minute when Anirudh Thapa delivered a low horizontal ball from a free-kick and Chhetri came back off the line to slot the ball in first time. It was just the start India needed to calm down the nerves in the finale. In the very next minute, India made yet another attack but there was no one to receive Chhetri’s cross.

Kenya soon started to find their feet in the game as they desperately looked for the equaliser.  In the fourteenth minute, Omoto played a looping ball for Mutamba in the box but Gurkeerat Singh Sandhu came out and grabbed the ball cleanly. Few minutes later, Oginga and Ochieng played a great one-two but Thapa tracked back to avoid the players spraying a cross.  Kenya’s failure to play well in the final third was hurting them as they were constantly failing to trouble the Indian back line.

And the African country soon paid the price for not capitalising on the chances. Just before the half-hour mark, Chhetri doubled India’s lead. Anas lofted a long ball and Chhetri, between Atudo and Kibwage, beat the offside trap, controlled the ball with a brilliant first touch and found the back of the net with a brilliant left-footer. Kenya tried to force their way back in but India held on to go into the break with a 2-0 lead.

Kenya started the second half with utmost emergency. Just a minute into the half and Ochieng hit one from distance, forcing Gurpreet to make a glittering diving save. The rebound is too hit but it went over the bar. Few minutes later, Ochieng provided a low cross from the right for Makwata but Kotal did really well to avert the danger. At the hour mark, Ochieng hit another long-ranger but Gurkeerat was once again alert to keep the ball out of the net. The story remained pretty much the same for the rest of the game.

Kenya tried their best but the Indians defended as if their lives were at stake to hold on to the 2-goal lead and seal the trophy.

https://twitter.com/JagratiShukla29/status/1005835318111526913

 

 

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *