Sunil Chhetri produced magic with a sensational objective at Kalinga Stadium to assist India safe a 1-0 win towards Vanuatu within the fourth match of the Intercontinental Cup 2023 on Monday, June 12. A win additionally guided India to the final of the third version after profitable the opening recreation towards Mongolia on June 9. Vanuatu’s possibilities for reaching the final of the four-team match ended as they continue to be with no level after two video games.
Indian staff struggled for a breakthrough for almost all of the time towards 164th-ranked Vanuatu. Blue Tigers missed loads of simple possibilities to rating and won’t be happy with their effort regardless of clinching three factors.
Igor Stimac’s males wanted a magical contact from captain Fantastic to keep away from blushes in Bhubaneshwar. Shubashish produced an help down the left flank after breaking into the field along with his fast ft. Chhetri collected the ball along with his chest after which deliver it down for a half volley which ended in the back of the nets with no time for Vanuatu goalkeeper Kalotang to react.
This is India’s sixth consecutive win stretching from Tri-Serie Cup win and the fourth consecutive clear sheet after one other stable efficiency from defence. Chhetri bagged the Player of the Match award and shocked the followers by saying that he and his spouse expect a child and devoted this memorable strike to her.
“Me and my wife are expecting a baby, this is how she wanted me to announce – it’s for her and the baby. I just hope we got all the blessings and wishes,” Chhetri mentioned in the course of the post-match presentation.Â
Indian head coach Igor Stimac was not joyful along with his gamers’ efficiency within the first half. They fired 24 pictures however solely two of them have been on the right track, together with Chhetri’s 81st-minute strike.
“In these conditions, if you don’t score early it becomes difficult as time moves. The positive thing is that we haven’t lost composure and calmness. First half the midfield was sloppy and that’s why we changed players,” Stimac mentioned after the sport.
