SAFF Championship 2023: Chhetri hat-trick powers India to 4-0 win over Pakistan

Bengaluru: Sunil Chhetri's glittering hat-trick laced India's 4-0 win over Pakistan in their SAFF Championship opener here on Wednesday as the talisman became the second-highest Asian goal-scorer in international football.

Ali Daei of Iran holds the record with 109 goals from 149 matches. Chhetri has 90 goals to his name.

From the beginning of the match itself India brought forth their experience and class into play. Pakistan had pockets of doughty resistance, but they were not a match to India's cohesion and purpose on a rain-drenched night at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

Chhetri had shown sparks of his old ebullient self in the Intercontinental Cup final against Lebanon at Odisha on Sunday, and the Indian skipper stepped on the pedal on his 'home turf'.

After getting a quick feel of the surface and their opponents, India started the goal rush as early as in the 10th minute through Chhetri, who netted through a fine field goal.

Six minute later, the talismanic forward doubled the lead through a penalty and at 2-0, the route which the match took was clear.

India pressed for more goals in the first half, but they could not add to the tally as Pakistan defence held their own. India too missed a couple of chances, though not easy, to pile pressure on their rivals.

However, the first-half ended in a rather disappointing note for India despite a handy 2-0 lead. An unnecessary attempt to impede a Pakistan player from taking the throw-in by coach Igor Stimac resulted in him slapped with a red card, and he had to leave the dug out for the night.

But that did not snap India's momentum in the second half. The hosts pressed forward like a giant wave in search of more goals. The big moment came in the 74th minute when India made it 3-0.

Pakistan defenders brought down Chhetri inside the box and referee Prajwal Chhetri allowed a penalty kick for India, and the Indian skipper converted it to complete his hat-trick, also putting the match beyond the grasp of Pakistan.

From that point, it was a case of India's victory margin and Udanta Singh passed more agony on the visitors with a goal in the 81st minute. Fed by a through pass by Sandesh Jhingan, Udanta made a good, speedy run down the pitch to slot the ball past Pakistan goalkeeper.

"Happy to keep clean sheet, happy to start tournament. Matches in these kinds of conditions are never easy. Happy people turned up, this is amazing, this is what we play for," Chhetri said after the match.

It was a sumptuous performance by India that thrilled the 22860-strong crowd that thronged the stadium despite a heavy downpour. India will next face minnows Nepal in their second Group A match on Saturday. 

This is the first time that the country has hosted the national team from its neighbour and bitter adversary since 2014.

While cricket reigns supreme in both nations, football is still extremely popular as was clear from the fans cheering at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in southern city Bengaluru.

The two nuclear nations have fought three wars since being carved out of the subcontinent's partition in 1947.

"An India-Pakistan match -- whether it is cricket or football -- is always great to watch," said Kaustuv Vatsyayan, 33, a banker based in Bangalore who was backing India.

"Sports... brings people of the two countries together and it is hopeful that the friendship of these two countries will be better in the future", he added.

Harshavardhan, a 20-year-old medical student who gave only his first name said: "India-Pakistan rivalry... be it football or cricket, it's much more interesting than other matches".

"As an Indian, I support India. Nevertheless, respect the opponent," he added.

Yogitha Rajeshwar, 27, a software engineer based in Bangalore, said she had been looking forward to supporting India in the match "for weeks".

"I have to appreciate the spirit of Pakistan coming here and playing given their economic crisis and lots of tension between the countries," she said. "I believe sports unites us."

The two countries rarely play home matches against each other in any sport.

"As devoted sportsmen, we understand the power of sports in transcending political boundaries and fostering strong relationships between nations," Pakistan captain Yousaf Butt told AFP ahead of the match.

The last time Pakistan played football in India in 2014 they drew a two-match series.

They faced off in the 2018 SAFF Championship in Bangladesh, with India winning 3-1.

India and Pakistan are in Group A of the eight-nation SAFF Championship, alongside Kuwait and Nepal. Group B features Lebanon, Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

The final is scheduled for July 4.

The participation of Pakistan in the Bengaluru event has raised hopes Islamabad will take part in the ICC 50-over World Cup cricket tournament hosted by India in October.

Pakistan had earlier threatened to boycott the event after India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in September, but a compromise was struck with Sri Lanka also hosting games.

If confirmed, this year's World Cup will mark Pakistan's first cricket trip to India since the T20 World Cup in 2016.

AFP, PTI