Sunil ChhetriIndia finished as the group leaders of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers after beating Hong Kong football team 4-0 at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday (June 14). Blue Tigers’ Anwar Ali opened the scoring for three minutes into the match and India did not give Hong Kong any rest or breathing space throughout the match.
Notably, India had already qualified for the Asian Cup final when Palestine defeated Philippines in a Group B match in Ulaanbaatar.
Four years after the Blue Tigers scored his first international goal in a 1-0 lead with 21-year-old centreback Anwar, his career was nearly over on health grounds.
The 2017 Under-17 World Cup star, whose career was halted after suffering from a rare heart disease (hypertrophic myocardiopathy), scored with a right foot strike from a short corner from Aashiq Kuruniyan into the top corner.
all the time! #blue tigers Another win after beating Hong Kong 4-0 and the Group D table by points!
IND HKG #INDHKG #acq2023 #backw #blue tigers #indianfootball pic.twitter.com/u661usb3Ul– Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) 14 June 2022
Playing alongside Sandesh Jhingan, the versatile defender not only made his presence felt in the backline but also put forth some fluid moves.
Talisman Chhetri doubled the lead just before the break from a 30-yard freekick to bring up his fourth goal of the tournament.
Jackson Singh was swimming in a brilliant freekick as the captain controlled it brilliantly with a clever first touch, before making his 84th international strike a cool one at home, which saw him top the charts. Saw the equal of the all-time leading international scorer with Hungarian great Ferenc Puska. ,
He also entered the list of top five international goalscorers. The Indian icon is just two goals behind Argentine superstar Lionel Messi in the list of active players led by Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (117).
Late in the second half, Brandon Fernandes started the move from the right and played a quick 1-2 with Roshan Singh before Manveer got the target.
On the song, India counter attack and a cross from Manveer’s right side is converted by Pandita.
More than eight hours before their face-off, both teams confirmed Asian Cup final berths, courtesy of Palestine’s 4–0 win over the Philippines, after finishing as the worst runners-up from six groups. were over.
Playing without any pressure, Stimac’s team made two bold changes in the starting XI, bringing in Sahal Abdul Samad and Udanta Singh in place of Liston Colaco and Manveer.
with PTI input