Sunil Chhetri scores again as India on verge of qualifying for Asia Cup
Captain Sunil Chhetri stamped his class yet again as he scored the match-winner to fire India to a 1-0 win over Kyrgyz Republic in a fast-pace and entertaining Asian Cup qualifier match on Tuesday.
Chhetri drilled a low shot with his right foot off a fine pass from Jeje Lalpekhlua in the 69th minute to lead India to a crucial win in the home leg tie of the Group A third round qualifiers of the 2019 Asian Cup.
Chhetri, who scored his 54th goal in his 94th match, led from the front throughout the match. Playing behind the lone striker Jeje, he was in the thick of things, at times falling back deep to help the defenders, setting up his team-mates and also taking shots on his own.
With the 1-0 win, India, ranked 100th in the world, lead the group with six points from two games, other than extending their winning run to eight matches. Chhetri had scored in the 1-0 win over Myanmar also.
Before this match, there were talks that India needed to work on defence and converting chances. While the first improved drastically against a Kyrgyzstan side ranked 132nd, the other problem remains, with even Chhetri among those missing opportunities.
