Sunil Chhetri brace helps India lift the Intercontinental Cup, equals Messi

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Mumbai :

Indian Football team beat Kenya 2-0 in the finals of the Intercontinental Cup 2018 at Mumbai today. The Indian captain Sunil Chhetri scored both the goals to help India lift the cup at a packed house.

India came into the game with an attacking mindset. The captain led from the front. At the 8′ assisted by Anirudh Thapa, Chhetri hit from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.

Another goal came at 29′ when Chhetri scored a right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. The ball was assisted by Anas Edathodika.

Sunil Chhetri scored 8 goals in the tournament , scoring in every game. Chettri has now equalled the Argentinian Lionel Messi’s 64 goals and is only behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

The drums, the Viking claps, the chants and the chorus had broken all decibel levels from two hours prior to the kick-off of the  Intercontinental Cup final at the Mumbai Football Arena. Chhetri’s emotional plea after the first game against Chinese Taipei flocked people at the stadium.

In the process champions India pocketed USD 50000 while runners-up Kenya received USD25000. Indian National Team Captain Sunil Chhetri who was declared the Player of the Tournament went back home richer by USD 7500.

Earlier India beat Chinese Taipei 4-0 and Kenya 3-0 but suffered defeat at the hands of New Zealand 2-1.

INDIA: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Pritam Kotal (Lalruatthara – 91st), Sandesh Jhingan, Anas Edathodika, Subhasish Bose (Narayan Das – 91st); Udanta Singh (Adhique Kuuruniyan – 80th), Pronay Halder, Anirudh Thapa (Laldhanmawaia Ralte – 93rd), Halicharan Narzary (Rowllin Borges – 61st), Sunil Chhetri ©, Jeje Lalpekhlua (Balwant Singh – 61st).

 

(PHOTO INPUT:- TWITTER/INDIAN FOOTBALL TEAM)