Sunil Chhetri sizzles in the drizzle

Mumbai: Slips, slides, mistimed challenges and mistakes were all a part of the game after the heavens opened up right before the starting whistle. Even in the difficult conditions, India snatched a 3-0 win over Kenya at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Monday as skipper Sunil Chhetri’s brace in the second half made his 100th game one to remember.

It was a game of two halves. The first was dominated by the rain and conditions, and the second by India. All three goals for the hosts came in the second half after the showers subsided.

 As soon as the players moved out on the pitch, the rain took over. It became harder and harder for players to play ground passes. The outfield had soaked up water to its maximum so the game strategy for both sides changed to aerial passes.

 Just once in the first half did India come close to finding the back of the net. In the 22nd minute, a long ball from the defense allowed and Jeje Lalpekhlua pulled the two Kenyan centre-backs with him.

They made an error and clashed together. Chhetri tried to capitalise on the situation by chipping the ball over keeper Patrick Matasi who was off his line. The effort landed on the top of the net though.

Certainly, the second half was much different. The thunderstorm changed into a drizzle and the game became exciting again. By the 49th minute, the visitors could have easily have been two goals to the good.

Forward Ovella Ochieng received a hopeful lofted ball but he produced a weak finish. In the same minute, his partner Pistone Mutamba outmuscled Sandesh Jhingan to reach the left and fired a shot wide with his left foot.

The tempo was returning to ground driven passes. However, it was another lofted pass from the Indian defense that led to a foul by Michael Kibwage in the box in the 65th minute. The referee awarded India a spot kick and Chhetri made it 1-0. A commanding shot in the left touched the keeper’s glove but still hit the back of the net.

The stadium was already in a frenzy and Jeje doubled the lead in the 71st minute. A cross from the left was not cleared completely by the defense. The forward controlled the ball and fired a shot in the top right corner to make it 2-0.

But the game was not over yet for the men in blue. Something special was still yet to come and it had to be Chhetri. While Kenya tried to find a goal, the hosts waited for a quick break. It was a clearance that met the substitute Balwant Singh who threaded a through ball to Chhetri. The keeper charged towards him and the skipper dinked it over him in the 92nd minute for the third and the final goal of the night.