Ratings: Sunil Chhetri leads from front as India conquer Pakistan in SAFF Championship clash

Sunil Chhetri netted a glamorous hat-trick in the SAFF Championship game.

India vs Pakistan, it is more than just a sport. And on a rainy and cold evening in Bengaluru where 22,860 people turned up to watch the Blue Tigers in action at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium against arch-rivals Pakistan, Sunil Chhetri and co. chose to tear their opponents into shreds.

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The Blue Tigers began the match strongly with Sunil Chhetri adding a couple of goals in the first half before India’s head coach Igor Stimac was sent off for a misconduct. And in the second half, India added a couple of more goals, one each from Chhetri and Udanta Singh to seal the deal. It was a must win match and India delivered with a solid 4-0 victory.

On that note, we take a look at how the players performed in the clash.

India (By Yash Pratap Singh)

Amrinder Singh (GK) - 7.5

Came off his line to make routine collections. Amrinder displayed his cheeky dribblings skills against Hamid. Not just that, Amrinder also came off his line to make an important clearance to deny Pakistan an opening in the second half. He wasn’t tested many times but everytime Pakistan tried to test him, Amrinder made sure he was ready for the challenge.

Pritam Kotal - 8.0

He held his man well and defended with his heart on his sleeve. Kotal was very good with his passing accuracy as well and distributed the ball with ease. He even made overlapping runs into the box and contributed very well in the attack. Kotal maintained his shape and made crucial blocks as well.

Sandesh Jhingan - 8.0

Jhingan was India’s leader at the back. He was very good with his on-the-ball movements and maintained a good passing accuracy as well. The central defender made crucial interceptions and blocks to deny the Pakistani attackers. In fact, Jhingan even pulled off a few perfectly-timed challenges.

Anwar Ali - 8.5

He formed a solid pairing at the back with Sandesh Jhingan. Anwar went into an advanced position and combined well with the midfielders too! He also played a few key passes to Ashique Kuruniyan and Lallianzuala Chhangte and helped them create attacking moves. It was Anwar who eventually helped Udanta score the fourth goal for India.

Subhasish Bose - 7.5

He was solid at the left-back position and came up with perfectly-timed blocks and tackles. Bose also made overlapping runs into the box. He kept a check on Pakistan’s right winger at all times and did not allow him any chances.

Anirudh Thapa - 8.0

As always, Thapa was India’s main man in dead ball situations. He delivered quality crosses into the box from free-kicks and corners. And not just that, he was very aggressive in the middle of the park and won a few duels in the process. 

Jeakson Singh - 8.0

Jeakson was a mainstay in the middle of the park. He was deployed to do the dirty work in the middle with his pinpoint clearances and interceptions. He combined very well with colleagues Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad. Moreover, his header inside the Pakistan box hit the crossbar.

Sahal Abdul Samad - 8.0

The magician was all over the pitch with his magic. Sahal dribbled past the defenders as if they didn’t exist and created many dangerous-looking chances for his side. He also tried his luck on goal but ended up hitting the side netting. He caused a lot of trouble to Pakistan with his phenomenal work-rate.

Lallianzuala Chhangte - 8.0

Made a run every time the ball was played towards him. He tested the Pakistan defenders with his pace and trickery. He combined well with Kotal and tested the keeper with a shot on turn with his left foot. Chhangte worked his socks off with his pacey runs and caused a lot of trouble to the defenders.

Sunil Chhetri - 10

Hat-trick Hero! Chhetri does what he does best. The skipper forced the Pakistan goalkeeper into a mistake and opened the scoring for India in the 10th minute before netting the second goal from the spot and then added his third in the second half. Chhetri was an absolute work horse and did not give up even once.

Ashique Kuruniyan - 7.5

Ashique initiated counter attacks for India and combined really well with Sahal and Subhasish on the left flank. He worked his socks off on the left and kept on sending in crosses into the box. It was a very fruitful and inspiring performance from the winger.

Substitutes

Rohit Kumar - 7.0

Rohit was brought on to take over the midfield duties from Anirudh Thapa. He came in and looked very good in the middle. He won a few duels and even surged forward to help in attack. Moreover, he maintained a decent passing accuracy.

Nikhil Poojary - 7.0

He came on midway through the second half to replace Pritam Kotal. He came in and hit the ground running with his clearances and blocks at the right-back position. Nikhil had a decent game and performed well every time he was called into action.

Udanta Singh - 8.0

He replaced Ashique late in the second half. Udanta had a brilliant impact on the game. He came in and made a quick run into the box and executed Anwar Ali’s lofted pass towards him to perfection to add his side's fourth goal.

Naorem Mahesh Singh - N/A

Mahesh came on for Chhangte in the 76th minute. Mahesh did not have a great outing today and was mostly out of action.

Liston Colaco - N/A

Liston came on to replace Sunil Chhetri late in the second half.  He couldn’t make much of an impact.

Pakistan (By Projjal Das)

Saqib Hanif - 4.5

The Pakistan goalkeeper might have the worst rating but he wouldn’t be entirely disappointed with his efforts considering the fact that his defence gave him up. A couple of vital saves and judging the direction of the penalty shots would be some positives that the Pakistani custodian would take back from this encounter. 

Easah Suliman - 5

The right-back made his team look vulnerable as Lallianzuala Chhangte made the most out of his flank and created countless opportunities for India.

Mamoon Moosa Khan - 7

Amidst the shambolic defence of Pakistan, the brightest star who shone through was their defensive midfielder Moosa Khan. The Pakistan #6 tried his best to string passes through the midfield but couldn’t find anything meaningful as the Pakistani team ended goalless after the match.

Sufiyan Asif - 7

A couple of crucial challenges in the box from the centre-back prevented an embarrassing scoreline for Pakistan. So despite their collaborative failure, the Pakistan #3 would take back some positives from the game.

Otis Khan - 6.5

The Pakistan forwards would definitely like to forget this outing given that the number of shots attempted in the entire 90 minutes were in single digits, but credit should be given to Otis Khan for trying to swing past the Indian defence and giving his best for the team.

Harun Hamid - 6.5

Another positive that Pakistan would take from this encounter would be their right winger Harun Hamid. Although like his compatriot on the left, Harun couldn’t manage to find anything dangerous on the flanks, but credit goes to him for the chances he created.

Hassan Bashir - 4

The Pakistan #10 hugely disappointed as the lead striker and failed to convert any opportunity that came his way.

Ali Mahmood - 4

The midfielder failed to cement his team’s midfield stance and gave away several dangerous chances for the Indian strikers to capitalize.

Rahis Nabi - 4.5

The defensive midfielder gave away the ball too many times to the opposition which resulted in this mercurial scoreline.

Mohammad Umar Hayat - 5

The defender gave away a penalty and cost his team a perhaps comfortable position in the game after which India capitalised on it. 

Abdullah Iqbal - 4.5

The centre-back was the hole in the wall for Pakistan and gave away too many cheap fouls and also a penalty to the opposition.

Substitutes

Alamgiri Ghazi - N/A

Roped in the dying embers of the game. He didn’t have a significant role to play.

Muhammad Waleed - 4

As part of a double substitution in the 82nd minute, the winger came on to the pitch but couldn’t make his mark in the game.

Muhammad Waheed - N/A

With just 8 minutes and stoppage time to work upon, the winger didn’t get enough chances to create something meaningful.

Shayak Dost - 4.5

Subbed in at the 54th minute, the striker couldn’t intimidate the strong backline of India and failed to create a single attempt in the match.

Ali Niazi

As part of the double substitution in the 54th minute, Ali Niazi was brought on. He failed to guard the Pakistan defence as they conceded two more goals after he took his place in the centre-back position.