Xtra Time Web Desk: It required a brilliance from Sunil Chhetri in the 79th minute to break the deadlock as Blue Tigers defeated Bangladesh 2-0 in the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers on Monday at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. Chhetri scored his second goal in the 92nd minute to hit the nail in Bangladesh’s coffin. It was exactly after 730 days and 11 matches the Indian senior football team got back to winning ways. The last time they won was against Thailand on June 08, 2019.
The Indian captain has now scored 74 international goals which is two more than Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi. FIFA World Cup official twitter handle acknowledged Sunil’s achievement by tweeting a video with a caption that read, “He’s now got more than Messi! Sunil Chhetri’s double earns the Blue Tigers a 2-0 win in #WCQ and moves him on to 74 international goals – above Lionel Messi and one off entering world football’s all-time top 10″
It was a dominating performance from Igor Stimac’s boys, taking early controls of midfield with Brandon Fernandes leading the way. But lack of finishing kept India at bay until Chhetri’s brilliant header off a cross from Ashique Kuruniyan. The Indian captain scored another goal in the injury-time, as he curled home a finish from inside the penalty area.
Igor Stimac made three changes from the side that took on Qatar in the last match. The Blue Tigers made a cautious start, playing it amongst themselves, searching for the gaps. With this win, India moved to the third position in the Group E standings. India now has six points, one point ahead of fourth-placed Afghanistan, while Bangladesh remain winless at the bottom of the six-team table with two points.
India will next lock horns against Afghanistan in the Qualifiers on Tuesday, June 15. The Blue Tigers are already out of contention to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2022, but can still qualify for AFC Asian Cup.