Press Trust of India
Mumbai, Sept 3: Masterminded superbly by ace striker Sunil Chhetri, a dominant India scripted a sensational 4-1 win over higher-ranked Puerto Rico in an international football friendly at the Andheri Sports Complex stadium here Saturday.
India were down 0-1 in the seventh minute with Emmanuel Sanchez scoring off a spot-kick, but the hosts went on to dominate the visitors, ranked 38 places above them, with some slick passing and quick attacking moves.
India, who led 3-1 at the half-way stage, scored their goals through Narayan Das (18th minute), Chhetri (26th), Jeje Lalpekhlua (34th) and Jackichand Singh (58th).
Chhetri, who had given away his captain’s armband to Norway-based towering custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu for this game, created assists for two goals and also struck once to emerge as the star player for the home country.
This was India’s fourth straight victory after the 1-2 loss to Turkmenistan in the World Cup qualifier in Kochi in March early this year. They had got past Laos 6-1 and 1-0 in June and then drubbed Bhutan 3-0 last month.
India started the match on the wrong foot by conceding a penalty when Elliot Velez was brought down on the left of the area by Jackichand. The resultant penalty was easily converted who placed the ball to the right of Gurpreet.
India equalised when Chhetri’s free-kick hit the post, but Das, left unmarked shot home. Six minutes later another free-kick award was given to the home team when Chhetri was brought down by Emmanuel D’Andrea. India’s leading international goal-getter once more curled the ball around the wall and it hit the underside of the post before going in.
