DOHA, June 7: India rode on a Sunil Chhetri brace to beat Bangladesh 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 preliminary joint round qualification round at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.
Courtesy the result, India moved to six points from seven matches, while Bangladesh are at two points seven matches. India next play Afghanistan in their last group league match on June 15.
Chhetri broke the deadlock in the 78th minute when he headed in Ashique Kuruniyan’s cross from the left. He then sealed the result by curling in a shot from long range in added time, to win the match 2-0 for the Blue Tigers.
Stimac made three changes from the side that took on Qatar in the last match. The Blue Tigers made a cautious start, playing it amongst themselves, searching for the gaps.
In the 2nd minute, Rakib Hossain was flashed the yellow for a tackle on Brandon Fernandes. Fernandes tried to be in the thick of action in his effort to essay those passes and find someone in the clear.
India earned their first corner in the 9th minute, but the first real chance came in the 15th minute when Fernades’ through ball played between the two central defenders found Manvir Singh in the clear inside the box.
With only the rival goalkeeper Anisur Rahaman to beat, Manvir was a bit shy to have a try, and delayed it that shade too long allowing the rival defence to regroup.
Bangladesh had a close shave in the 35th minute when Chinglensana Singh’s header off a Fernandes corner was cleared on the line by Riyadul Hasan.
India finally was able to break the deadlock, and it was none other than Sunil Chhetri, on the 79th minute, who connected with a Kuruniyan cross from an acute angle to send the ball back across Bangladesh goalkeeper Anisur.
Bangladesh began to throw bodies forward in search of the equaliser but were often thwarted by the Indian defence. Jamal Bhuyan went into the referee’s books a minute after Chhetri’s goal, for a foul on Fernandes.
Stimac made a couple of tactical changes in order to hold on to the lead in added time, as Pronay Halder and Adil Khan replaced Chinglensana Singh and Fernandes, respectively.
However, captain Chhetri sealed the three points for the Blue Tigers, as he collected a pass from the left by Suresh Singh, outside the Bangladesh area, and curled it into the back of the net.
India will next lock horns against Afghanistan in the Qualifiers on Tuesday, June 15. The side is already out of contention to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2022, but the Blue Tigers can still qualify for AFC Asian Cup.
Chhetri second to CR7
Chhetri’s scored twice, his 73rd and 74th international goals, to go past UAE’s Ali Mabkhout who has 73 goals to his name.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored the most international goals (103) amongst active international goalscorers. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has 72 international goals in 143 appearances for Argentina.
Chhetri will be hoping to add to his goal tally and help India finish third on the 2022 World Cup qualifying table.
The talismanic striker has also equalled legendary Indian forward IM Vijayan’s record of scoring the most goals (4) in winning causes in the World Cup qualifiers. (Agencies)
