Chhetri sits alongside Messi as 2nd highest active goal-scorer
MUMBAI: Talismanic Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri on Sunday became the joint second highest international goal scorer among active players along with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi with his 64th strike for the country against Kenya in the Intercontinental Cup summit clash here.
Chhetri, who had come into the match with 62 goals, gave India the lead in the eighth minute before scoring the second goal in the 29th minute to put him on par with Meesi.
He chested down a long pass from Anas Edathodika between two Kenyan defenders before firing in a low left-footer just inside the box that beat goalkeeper Patrick Matasi all ends up. The 33-year-old Chhetri, who was playing in his 102nd international match, and Messi are behind leader and Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo who has 81 goals from 150 matches.
Chhetri and Messi are currently in joint 21st in the alltime list of goal scorers. The Indian is just one goal below former Chelsea and Ivory Coast stalwart Didier Drogba (65 from 104 matches).
In terms of number of goals per match, Chhetri is better than Messi, arguably the best player in the world currently. Chhetri has scored 0.62 goals per match as against 0.52 of Messi (64 goals from 124 matches). The Indian has also a better goal average than Cristiano (0.54 per match).
Chhetri, who became only the second Indian to feature in 100 international matches after former skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, had earlier equalled Zlatan Ibrahamovic of Sweden and World Cup winner Brazilian Ronaldo in the match against New Zealand which India lost 1-2.
INDIA WIN INTERCONTINENTAL CUP
Skipper Sunil Chhetri led from the front once again, scoring a brace of spectacular goals to fashion India’s 2-0 victory over Kenya in the final of the Intercontinental Cup at Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday.
Chhetri, who had scored in each of three league games earlier, displayed similar intensity in the final and took his tally of goals in the tournament to eight, which is a personal record for him in a tournament.
His second goal, which was the 64th of his career, also saw him equal Argentina striker Lionel Messi’s tally and in the process made him the joint-second active international goal scorer behind only Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
India were back to their full strength with all seven players, who were rested for the tie against New Zealand, returning to the side. Cheered by a huge number of partisan crowd with majority of them togged up in blue, the home side went for an attack from the outset.
The team’s attacking game paid rich dividend as early as in the 8thminute when Bernanrd Oginga gave away a free-kick for a high boot on Chhetri from Pritam Kotal’s throw-in.
Anirudh Thapa, who has been impressive throughout the tournament, passed a low horizontal ball from the free-kick as Chhetri came back off the line and netted the ball home to give the hosts lead.
The Indian captain doubled the lead in the 29th minute with a superb left-footer. Anas Edathodika had lofted a long ball and Chhetri came between Atudo and Kibwage to strike the ball past Kenyan custodian Patrick Musotsi with élan.
With India bossing the game, the only way Kenya could have made a comeback by launching a counterattack of their own. However, their efforts to make inroads into Indian defense proved futile and only added to their desperation. A shattering moment for the African side came in the 36thminute when defender Oginga was given a yellow card.