Mumbai: India thrashed Chinese Taipei 5-0 to kick-start their Intercontinental Cup campaign in emphatic fashion at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai on Friday.
Super star Sunil Chhetri scored a superb hat-trick while Udanta Singh and Pronoy Halder scored each as the hosts registered an easy win over Chinese Taipei, in a largely one sided match.
Constantine’s men dominated the possession and created more chances giving little room to play for the Asian minnows.
Chhetri scored his first in the 14th minute after a passing spell with Jeje Lalpekhlua and the second goal in the 34th minute after playing a one-two pass with Jeje to slice through the Chinese Taiperi defence lines and slot the ball home while Taipei players looked chasing.
The Bengaluru FC star could have completed his hat-trick in the 39th minute but his lob from close range was saved by keeper Wien Chen.
In the second half India continued to dominate the game and pressed hard resulting to a phenomenal goal by Chetri’s Bengaluru teammate Udanta Singh in three minutes from the break. The winger showed great footwork before placing the shot in the bottom corner to make the scoreline 3-0.
India was in mood to stop the onslaught as Chetri completed his hat-trick on the hour mark blasting the ball into the back of the net from close range after a corner kick by Udanta was collected by Anirudh Thapa and passed to him.
Pronoy Halder completed the route in 78th minute with a powerful long range shot.
India will face African side Kenya in the next match in the tournament.
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