What is Sunil Chhetri’s record against Maldives?

Sunil Chhetri has had some big moments against the Red Snappers.

Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has been the man for the big occasions for the Blue Tigers in international football. Apart from delivering crucial goals for India in major tournaments, he has especially had some huge moments against the Maldives historically.

Among his many opponents, the Red Snappers have infamously felt the impact of Chhetri’s brilliance on multiple occasions. Over the years, the 40-year-old has scored against them in different editions of the SAFF Championships and the Nehru Cup, leaving his mark in India’s footballing history.

A match-winning brace in the 2011 SAFF Championship

The Indian icon’s first encounter against the Red Snappers came during the 2011 SAFF Championship, where he struck twice in a crucial encounter. His first goal came in the 70th minute, giving India the 2-1 advantage in a tense game that was all tied at 1-1 before his penalty.

As the match neared its conclusion, the mercurial striker sealed the victory with a stoppage-time goal in the 91st minute, dispatching home another penalty to send the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in raptures. His heroics helped India dominate the tournament, as they eventually went on to lift their sixth SAFF Championship title.

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Another two goals in the 2012 Nehru Cup

A year later, in the 2012 Nehru Cup, Chhetri once again tormented the Red Snappers defence. He found the net in first-half stoppage time (45+2 minute) to settle Indian nerves and added further insurance with another goal in the 70th minute to give the Blues Tigers a comfortable 2-0 lead.

His sharp finishing and ability to rise to the occasion reinforced his status as India’s most reliable goal-scorer in pressure situations. India went on to win the tournament, where Chhetri’s legacy as a clutch performer was cemented as he scored the equalizer and also scored his penalty enroute to a close 5-4 win.

An inspired strike in the 2015 SAFF Championship

Chhetri continued his scoring streak against Maldives in the 2015 SAFF Championship. This time, he found the net in the 25th minute, breaking the deadlock and giving India a much-deserved lead following Halicharan Narzary’s assist.

Although he didn’t score a second this time around, his early goal set the tone for India’s win, who won the game 3-2 courtesy of Jeje Lalpekhlua’s brace. Once again, his leadership on the pitch played a key role in guiding India to win their seventh title, while winning the MVP award for the tournament.

Two more goals in the 2021 SAFF Championship

Even a decade after his first brace against Maldives, Chhetri showed no signs of slowing down and turned back the clock with this all-time classic performance. During the 2021 SAFF Championship, he added two more goals to his tally. He got the breakthrough goal against the Red Snappers scoring in the 62nd to make it 2-1 after a well-timed pass from Manvir Singh.

He added a second goal in the 71st minute after he got himself ahead of his marker latching on to a lovely cross from Pritam Kotal to head home his fourth goal of the tournament. These strikes demonstrated his evergreen ability to find the net, proving why he remains India’s all-time top scorer. His performance in that match was crucial in leading India to their eighth SAFF Championship title and helped him add yet another MVP trophy to his mantle.

The Bengaluru FC striker’s record against Maldives reflects his consistency, skill, and leadership for India. With a total of seven goals against the Red Snappers across four different tournaments, he has been a constant thorn in their defense.

His ability to deliver in crucial moments has made him an undisputed icon within Indian football, and his performances against Maldives stand as a testament to his greatness. The veteran striker will once again be in action against the island nation when they renew their acquaintances during an international friendly scheduled on March 19, 2025 (Wednesday)

Here’s a list of all goals scored by Sunil Chhetri against Maldives:

Goal Number	Fixture	Competition	Year	Type of Goal
1	India vs Maldives	SAFF Championship	2011	Penalty
2	India vs Maldives	SAFF Championship	2011	Penalty
3	India vs Maldives	Nehru Cup	2012	Penalty
4	India vs Maldives	Nehru Cup	2012	Header
5	India vs Maldives	SAFF Championship	2015	Penalty
6	India vs Maldives	SAFF Championship	2021	Right Footed Volley
7	India vs Maldives	SAFF Championship	2021	Header

Sunil Chhetri’s record vs Maldives

Competition	Matches Played	Goals
SAFF Championship	3	5
Nehru Cup	1	2
Total	4	7

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