Chhetri scores a brace as India wins 3-0

Sunil Chhetri scored a brace on his 100th appearance as India beat Kenya 3-0.

Updated : Jun 04, 2018 22:01 IST

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri in action during the Intercontinental Cup tie against Chinese Taipei on Friday.
Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri in action during the Intercontinental Cup tie against Chinese Taipei on Friday.
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Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri in action during the Intercontinental Cup tie against Chinese Taipei on Friday.

FULL TIME: India has sealed another comfortable win in the Intercontinental Cup, outplaying Kenya 3-0. Second consecutive win for India in the tournament. Can it maintain the unbeaten run so far? Meanwhile, it has been a night to remember for Chhetri, who scored twice in his 100th international tie, as he gets a standing ovation from a packed capacity crowd at the stadium. India 1, Kenya 0.

90+2' GOAL! Chhetri makes it three for India with a cheeky chip over the 'keeper. India up 3-0.

5 added minutes

89' CHANCE! Duncan Otieno tries his luck with a shot off a counter attack, only to shoot wide once again. Meanwhile, Anas Edathodika goes off for Salam Ranjan Singh.

87' CHANCE! Dennis receives a good cross and goes for the shot, only to see his effort going over the bar.

85' Substitution! Anirudh Thapa goes off for Rowllin Borges. Also, Jeje Lalpekhlua is replaced by Balwant Singh.

83' Substitution! Holi Charan Narzary makes way for Ashique Kuruniyan.

81' CHANCE! Kenya's Makwata has a shot on target from the edge of the box, only to be tipped over the goal by Gurpreet.

79' Substitution! Sandesh Jhingan could have injured himself as he makes way for Narayan Das.

78' India stepping up the attack as the Indian strikers are going all-out attack. Is a third goal on the cards?

 

 

71' GOAL! India has doubled the lead within three minutes, and it's Jeje who puts it in at the top-right corner of the net. India up 2-0. Meanwhile, Omwenga makes way for Makwata for Kenya.

68' GOAL! Chhetri drives the penalty kick into the top-left corner of the net. He scores in his 100th international game. What a moment for him. Surely, it would be one of the memorable goals of his career.

65' Penalty to India! Doesn't look like a penalty as it seems Chhetri might have stumbled inside the box off a contact off a Kenyan defender, but the referee points at the spot.

63' What a save! Another good build-up allow Pronoy Halder to go for a shot from some distance outside the box. As he aims for the top right corner of the goal, it is brilliantly saved by the Kenyan Keeper. One of the best chance for India this evening.

58' Another good build up as a throw a throw-in to Chhetri allows him to have another attempt inside the box, only to go wide.

57' Freekick to India! Chhetri goes for it, but hits the Kenyan defence wall.

54' Oh Chhetri! Halicharan narzary plays a peach of a cross from the left flank straight to Chhetri but the latter simply fails to connect with the ball.

50' What a chance! Chhetri plays the ball to strike partner Jeje Lalpekhlua, who's attempt is just above the crosssbar. The first goal doesn't seem too far away now!

48' Ovella Ochieng nearly scores! He slides the ball past two Indian defenders and a dicing Gurpeet, only to miss the target by a couple of inches.

After a rain-soaked first half, the players head to the dressing room with the scoreline reading 0-0. Both teams have looked dangerous but neither have had a clear cut chance so far.

45+1' Miheso Cliffton curls a free kick from distance but Jhingan heads the ball away and that signals the end of the first half.

43' Udanta makes a lovely run down the right flank and skillfully gets past a couple of defenders but fails to deliver a cross into the D.

41' And it's an Indian free kick from distance. Will we see the opener here? Anirudh Thapa's looping free kick yields no result as Matasi makes the save yet again.

 

38' The Indians are taking the attack to the Kenyan D but are still unable to find the all-important first goal. 

34' Chhetri has a lovely one-on-one chance here but Matasi rushes off his line to clear the ball.  The rain seems to have eased up, but the pitch continues to be filled with puddles.

The pitch is filled with puddles and the ball is barely even rolling on a few areas.  The players are struggling to play ground passes.

28' Sandesh Jhingan throws himself in the air to make an excellent acrobatic clearance.

24' Well saved! The Indian defence scampers to avoid conceding the opener. Indian custodian, Gurpeet, remains largely untested so far.

22' HOW CLOSE WAS THAT!? The Kenyan defence attempted a clearance but managed to clear it only as far as an onrushing Chhetri, who's  attempt from a little beyond the D and just managed to find the top netting. 

20' Matasi has been constantly kept under pressure but he's dealt with it pretty well. He looks sharp and has rushed off his line to make a couple of clearances on this slippery outfield.

17' Chhetri tries to play a long ball towards Udanta but the lob is a little too powerful and simply skids off the surface to the goalkeeper.

 

14' India wins a free kick just outside the D. Can the side convert? Nope. The free kick finds Kenyan goalkeeper Patrick Matasi and we're yet to see the opening goal.

10' A powerful drive from at the Indian goal takes a deflection to give Kenya its second corner of the night.

 

6' And Kenya are awarded the first corner of the match, but to no avail. The Indian defence clears the ball with ease.

4' It's raining cats and dogs here and the players are struggling to keep the ball on the ground, and hold their ground as well.

3' Chhetri makes a move into the opposition box but is found offside.

And the players take the pitch as the heavens open up. Bhaichung presents Chhetri with a memento before the game and we're now all set for an exciting contest ahead.  

Hello and welcome to Sportstar's live blog of this evening's Intercontinental Cup tie between India and Kenya.

India got its campaign off to a winning start when it coasted to a 5-0 win over Chinese Taipei in the opening match. Kenya, on the other hand, come into the game on the back of a 2-1 win over New Zealand.

READ: After Chhetri’s plea, tickets for India game sold out

Tonight's match, however, is all about one man: Sunil Chhetri. Beginning his career with Mohun Bagan in 2002, Chhetri has come a long way and will be making his 100th appearance tonight. This will also make him only the second Indian after Bhaichung Bhutia to touch the three-figure mark.

As the Indian skipper, Chhetri has helped the team bag the Nehru Cup on three occasions — in 2007, 2009 and 2012 and the 2011 SAFF Championship as well. He contributed hugely to India’s qualification to the first AFC Asian Cup in 27 years by guiding to a title triumph in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup.

ALSO READ: I try and lead by example than lecturing, says Chhetri

Adding a feather to his cap, Chhetri has also been named the AIFF Player of the Year four times in 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

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