All posts tagged: Chhetris

Sunil Chhetri’s last-gasp goal breaks Goan hearts as Bengaluru FC progress to ISL 2024-25 Final

Sunil Chhetri’s last-gasp goal breaks Goan hearts as Bengaluru FC progress to ISL 2024-25 Final

Published by Webster

Bengaluru FC qualified for a record fourth final of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 tonight after a 3-2 aggregate win against FC Goa in the semi-final. Though the Blues lost the second leg at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda by 2-1 here, their 2-0 win from the first game of this fixture earlier this week ensured that they entered the summit clash, with Sunil Chhetri starring courtesy of a decisive goal in the added time of the second half. The Gaurs looked to set the tone of this game from the onset, with Boris Singh hammering a shot from distance way too high to the target in the seventh minute. In the very next move, Udanta Singh supplied a precise pass to Iker Guarrotxena inside the 18-yard box, which the attacker kicked high and wide to the left. Though these endeavours did not materialise into goals, they spoke volumes about FC Goa’s intent to cut the deficit early on. In the 13th minute, Dejan Drazic swung into the thick of things, pouncing upon …

‘Reality of Indian football’: Sunil Chhetri’s return cannot stop dire run as India get lucky 0-0 draw against Bangladesh | Football News

‘Reality of Indian football’: Sunil Chhetri’s return cannot stop dire run as India get lucky 0-0 draw against Bangladesh | Football News

Published by Webster

India’s last win of consequence was a 0-1 away victory against Kuwait in a World Cup qualifier in November 2023. Since then, an AFC Asian Cup has passed, numerous other WC qualifiers have gone by and those matches are sandwiched between friendlies played against different countries. The only result that has gone in their favour has been a 3-0 win against Maldives, a team that hasn’t seen a domestic league in two years. Since that Kuwait win, India have picked up seven losses, six draws and one win. The sixth draw in that disastrous run of results came on Tuesday when India mustered a grand total of two shots on goal in over 90 minutes of football, and opened their 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers with a draw that really was an escape from a defeat. To gather a larger picture of the game, against a team ranked 185th in the world, Marquez was made to search for the right words, and the Spaniard had this to offer: “Maybe this is the reality of Indian …

Sunil Chhetri’s return: We need players who can score goals, says coach Manolo Marquez | Football News

Sunil Chhetri’s return: We need players who can score goals, says coach Manolo Marquez | Football News

Published by Webster

India’s national football team coach, Manolo Marquez, raised plenty of eyebrows when he decided to ask 40-year-old Sunil Chhetri to come out of retirement to play AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers against Bangladesh later this month. The Spanish coach, however, said his reason was simple – Chhetri’s domestic form and lack of goalscorers for the national team.With 12 goals, this has been Chhetri’s highest-scoring season in the ISL. He has scored more goals in 2024-25 than the previous two ISL seasons combined. “Sunil is the Indian top-scorer in the ISL, with practically double goals (12) than the next player, who is Brison (7). After that are Subhasish, Irfan, Manvir.. all of them are here with us in the national team. We need players who score goals. In my four matches so far, we have only scored two goals – one of them from a set-piece.” The national team had a nightmare 2024 where they failed to win a single of their 11 matches. There was a humiliating exit for Croatian coach Igor Stimac and an …

What forced Sunil Chhetri’s retirement u-turn?

What forced Sunil Chhetri’s retirement u-turn?

Published by Webster

So, who is after Chhetri for Indian football? Surprise… It’s still Sunil Chhetri. The Captain. Leader. Legend. Seeing India’s struggles in the final third, he took matters into his own hands. In the past year, India played 11 matches, including the Asian Cup qualifiers, scoring just four goals. Football may be low-scoring, but India’s form suggests it’s no-scoring. Coach Manolo Márquez emphasized the importance of Chhetri’s return, saying, “Qualifying for the Asian Cup is vital. I discussed with Sunil about making a comeback.” But is this the right move? Goal drought or Striker drought Truth is, it’s both—one causes the other. India has long searched for Chhetri’s successor, but no one has consistently stepped up. When the foreign-player quota in ISL’s starting XI dropped from five to four in 2021-22, the expectation was a greater influx of Indian talent—and while that did happen, strikers remained as rare as hen’s teeth. Before the rule change, foreigners accounted for 80% of all ISL goals. While Indians now contribute about a third of ISL goals, the expectation of …

Sunil Chhetri cannot be Sunil Chhetri’s replacement

Sunil Chhetri cannot be Sunil Chhetri’s replacement

Published by Webster

“Sunil Chhetri is back,” the All India Football Federation posted on Thursday. It came as a shock to the Indian football ecosystem. Chettri, the greatest footballer India has ever produced, had agreed to return to international football less than a year after his teary-eyed farewell in June 2024. Chettri, 40, is one of the most astute athletes Indian sports has even seen. True to his nature, his retirement, at the time, was well thought out. Chettri posted an almost 10-minute long video, bidding adieu to the Indian football team, almost a month before his final match. He spoke his heart out; recalled his debut, thanked his teammates, friends, and family. This was supposed to be it. The final dance. Chettri bowed out with 94 international goals against his name. The return, therefore, was unexpected. Manolo Marquez, the Indian head coach, revealed he requested Chhetri to reconsider his decision and make his way back to the Indian setup. “The qualification for the Asian Cup is very crucial for us. Given the importance of the tournament and …

Sunil Chhetri’s late equaliser ends East Bengal FC’s playoff hopes- Talking points

Sunil Chhetri’s late equaliser ends East Bengal FC’s playoff hopes- Talking points

Published by Webster

A stoppage-time penalty from Sunil Chhetri shattered East Bengal FC’s playoff hopes as Bengaluru FC held them to a 1-1 draw at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The result leaves East Bengal out of the ISL 2024-25 playoff race, while Bengaluru FC secured a hard-fought point. Here are the top five talking points from the match. 1. Sunil Chhetri’s Ice-Cold Penalty With BFC trailing 1-0 deep into stoppage time, a handball inside the box handed them a lifeline. Chhetri stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty into the bottom right corner, salvaging a crucial point for Bengaluru FC and officially knocking East Bengal out of the playoff race. 2. Raphael Messi Bouli’s Early Strike East Bengal started the game on the front foot, and their efforts were rewarded when Raphael Messi Bouli struck in the 11th minute. A well-worked move saw Bouli cut in from the right and finish clinically, giving the home side a deserved lead. 3. Dimitrios Diamantakos’ Red Card East Bengal looked in control until Dimitrios Diamantakos received a straight red card …

Sunil Chhetri’s quick free-kick sparks controversy as Bengaluru FC beat Jamshedpur

Sunil Chhetri’s quick free-kick sparks controversy as Bengaluru FC beat Jamshedpur

Published by Webster

The Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 witnessed a heated moment during Bengaluru FC’s 3-0 victory over Jamshedpur FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, on Sunday. The biggest talking point of the match was Sunil Chhetri’s quick free kick, which led to the opening goal and left Jamshedpur FC players furious. In the 43rd minute, Chhetri won a foul on the left wing and quickly restarted play, catching the Jamshedpur defense off guard. His pass found Edgar Mendez, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. Jamshedpur players protested immediately, arguing that the referee did not allow them time to set up their defense before Chhetri took the free kick. Watch the controversial goal here: Was Chhetri’s quick free-kick legal? According to the IFAB Laws, a team can take a quick free kick as long as: – The referee has not signaled for a ceremonial restart. – The ball is stationary when played. – Opponents are at least 4 meters (4.5 yards) away or making an effort to retreat. Since the referee did not intervene, …

Chhetri’s hat-trick, and more goal-less adventures

Chhetri’s hat-trick, and more goal-less adventures

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Matchweek 11 of the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) was a mix of glorious comebacks, historic feats, and—unfortunately for some teams—a quest for goals. Sunil Chhetri defied age to bag a hat-trick, while Hyderabad FC’s home ground became the place where good things went to die. Punjab FC had a brilliant “keep the ball, we’ll take the goals” approach, and East Bengal decided “why not” when coasting to a 2-0 win. Let’s break down the action from the week, filled with drama, missed opportunities, and some unforgettable moments. Hyderabad vs FC Goa: Manolo’s revenge Ah, the irony! Manolo Marquez, Hyderabad’s ex-coach who once lamented the city’s total lack of football culture (cricket fans, take a bow), celebrated his 100th ISL game by coaching FC Goa to a 2-0 win over… you guessed it, Hyderabad FC. Udanta Singh and Iker Guarrotxena apparently decided the first half was enough time to show Hyderabad how goals are scored – no drama required. Hyderabad tried to make things interesting in the second half with some “efforts” (if we can …

Chhetri’s hat-trick sinks Kerala Blasters in Southern Derby- Talking Points

Chhetri’s hat-trick sinks Kerala Blasters in Southern Derby- Talking Points

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Sunil Chhetri’s record-breaking hattrick sinks Kerala Blasters in the Southern Derby, as Bengaluru FC secure a commanding 4-2 win over their rivals at the Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday. At 40 years and 126 days, Chhetri became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in ISL history, surpassing Bartholomew Ogbeche’s record in the process. Bengaluru were at their efficient best against KBFC, scoring from four of their five shots on target despite having just 36.4% possession. With this win, BFC moves back to the top of the ISL points table, with 23 points in 11 games. Kerala Blasters, on the other hand, are in 10th spot, with just 11 points from 11 games. #5: Early dominance from Bengaluru FC and Chhetri’s heroics It was Sunil Chhetri’s night all along, as the man stood tall when the light shone the brightest in the Southern Derby. Chhetri scored the first goal in the 8th minute with a strong header, giving Bengaluru the lead. 30 minutes later, Ryan Williams made it 2-0 in the 38th minute with a curling …

ISL: Chhetri’s heroics sink ill-fated Mohammedan Sporting against Bengaluru FC

ISL: Chhetri’s heroics sink ill-fated Mohammedan Sporting against Bengaluru FC

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Kolkata: Mohammedan Sporting only had their luck to blame for not walking away as winners against Bengaluru FC on Wednesday. The Kolkata outfit dominated large portions of the game, created numerous chances, and consistently tested Bengaluru’s defence and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. However, two late strikes from Sunil Chhetri ensured that Bengaluru FC claimed all three points at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, regaining the top spot in the Indian Super League (ISL) standings. Manzoki: The tragic hero Mohammedan Sporting started brilliantly in a 4-3-3 formation, pressing high and unsettling Bengaluru FC’s defence. Their efforts bore fruit in the 8th minute when Carlos Franca surged down the left flank and, despite fumbling initially, set up Mirjalol Kasimov. Kasimov’s deflected shot won a corner, and his subsequent delivery was met by Cesar Manzoki, who headed it into the bottom right corner, giving Mohammedan Sporting an early 1-0 lead. Cesar Manzoki celebrating after scoring a goal for Mohammedan Sporting. Manzoki, however, endured heartbreak in the 86th minute. After Alexis Gomez recovered possession and released Lalremsanga Fanai, the latter’s …