India vs Pakistan, SAFF Championship 2023 : Chhetri hat-trick leads IND to 4-0 win

Sunil Chhetri scored twice as India dominated the first half of their SAFF Championship opener against Pakistan.

India are well ahead of Pakistan on paper in almosts every way and the gulf in class could be seen as a mistake from the goalkeeper allowed India Sunil Chhetri to score an easy opener for the hosts.

India then got a penalty due to a hand ball and Chhetri converted that calmly to double his side’s lead. Chhetri thus equalled the record for second highest Asian international goal scorer of all time.

India were cruising in the first half but it came to a boil close to half time when their head coach Igor Stimac provoked a melee by knocking the ball out of Pakistan’s player’s hands as he prepared to take a throw-in. Stimac ended up getting sent off after things calmed down.

At half time, India lead 2-0. The second half turned out to be a more straightforward affair for the hosts. Chhetri completed his hat-trick while Udanta Singh turned in one in the last 10 minutes of regulation time. India won 4-0 and kept a clean sheet for a seventh consecutive match.