Sunil Chhetri scored both goals as the Indian men’s football team began their AFC Asian Cup qualifier campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over Cambodia at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan on Wednesday.
India are looking to qualify for the AFC Asia Cup for the first time, having done so in 2019, with their previous appearances in 2011, 1984 and 1964.
After the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) complained to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) about their flag and threatened to pull out of the tournament, further controversy was in store before kick-off. Cambodia players had to wait about 5 minutes for their national anthem to play on digital screens as the flag, which was cut black in the middle.
Although the game was running as advertised and India The match started with a lighting barrage as promised by head coach Igor Stimac.
In the 9th minute, Liston Colaco had a good chance to go behind the defense from a lucky break but a heavy touch meant the defender held his ground and cleared. It looked like the Blue Tigers had tasted blood and the next opportunity would not be left in a hurry.
Liston found a long diagonal ball from deep, which he chested with his usual aplomb, losing his marker in the process. A sudden burst of speed and he was off second as the third defender had to slide to bring him down and foil the attack. The referee, however, did not agree as he blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot.
After some protests from Cambodian players, which was quickly removed by the referee, Chhetri stepped up to score his 81st goal, leaving the keeper behind. The Indian talisman is fifth on the list of active footballers behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (117), Iran’s Ali Dei (109), and Malaysia’s Mokhtar Dahari (89) and Argentina’s Lionel Messi (86).
Stimac decided to change his attack at the start of the second half, bringing in Udant Singh and Sahal Abdul Samad in place of Manveer Singh and Anirudh Thapa.
As India passed metronomically from front to back, the crowd in attendance proceeded to give the ball another push. Cambodia, who were accustomed to India’s attacks, nearly fell asleep at the back post as Chhetri still got ready to slot in a thumping header from Brandon Fernandes in the 60th minute.
One of the shortest on the field stood tall as he waved a kiss from the stands to mad excitement.
A few minutes later Brandon, impressed with his skill on his weak left foot, decided to try his luck from afar, but only managed to snag the top of the net.
Chhetri had a golden opportunity to take another through ball to take a hat-trick from Brandon, but his usually controlled first touch took him away from goal-of-mouth. He was replaced shortly thereafter as fans showered him on a starry night from the stands. Aashiq Kuruniyan took over from him as Brandon also made way for Glenn Martins.
Roshan, who was impacting on the right wing, had to be removed with an injury as Pritam Kotal came forward to strengthen the defense.
The teams looked satisfied with the result in the final stages of the game as around 26,000 spectators begged for another goal. However this was not to happen as India beat Hong Kong to finish the night at the top of Group D Afghanistan 2-1 in the first day.
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