India vs Kyrgyz Republic Highlights: Sunil Chhetri BREAKS Puskas RECORD, India win Tri-Nation Friendly Tournament- Watch Highlights

India vs Kyrgyz Republic Highlights: India Tri-Nation Friendly: India Football Friendlies: Goals from Sandesh Jhingan and Sunil Chhetri earned India the Tri-Nation Friendly trophy with a 2-0 win over the Kyrgyz Republic. India had previously defeated Myanmar with a score of 1-0. In the 84th minute, Sunil Chettri scored from the penalty spot and doubled the lead to become the 5th highest scorer in international football. Igor Stimac and India would be delighted to win their first international tournament in Manipur as they prepare for the AFC Asian Cup. Follow Indian Football Team LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN

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Igor Stimac named a rotated XI for the final game. Only Akash Mishra kept his place in a rather changed back four with Sandesh Jhingan, Pritam Kotal and Anwar Ali coming in. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was give a start ahead of Amrinder Singh. Suresh Wangjam and Brandon Fernandes was brought in the midfield with an aimed 4-2-3-1 formation, Sunil Chhetri, Anirudh Thapa, Jeakson Singh and Chhnagte kept their spots.

Kyrgyz Republic on the other hand made quite a number of changes as well. Uzdenov Magamed, Sagynbaev Bekzan, Batyrkanov Ernist, came in. The ones to go out were Sherali Yuldashev, Kai Merk, Raul Dzhalilov.

2️⃣ wins in 2️⃣💪
The #BlueTigers are winners of the #HeroTriNation in Imphal!🏆😍 #KGZIND ⚔️ #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/CVOWR5Pnyi

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 28, 2023

India vs Kyrgyz Republic Highlights: Sunil Chhetri BREAKS Puskas’ RECORD, Sandesh Jhingan on TARGET as India beat Kyrgyzstan to win Tri-Nation Friendly Tournament- Watch Highlights

Against the Kyrgyz Republic, the opening goal came from a rather unexpected quarter – centre-back Sandesh Jhingan found the target in the 34th minute. As Brandon Fernandes put the ball in style in front of the rival goalmouth off a free-kick, Jhingan pounced on it like a panther to find the back of the net.

If the Kyrgyz Republic goalkeeper Tokotaev Erzhan had an inkling that the tall Indian defender would go for a header, then he was terribly wrong as Jhingan waited for the ball to land and then swung it with a deft touch to give India the lead. It wasn’t for nothing that the crowd turned the merriment into a rather wild one that lasted for a few minutes.

Indian coach Igor Stimac, on the eve of the match, spoke about going for all-out attacks despite the fact that a draw would have been enough to keep the trophy home. He certainly kept his word as India launched a series of raids on the opposition goal whenever they had the opportunity. One such attack in the 84th minute saw the Kyrgyz Republic defence crumble under pressure as Naorem Mahesh Singh was brought down inside the penalty box by Davydov Nikolai.

India vs Kyrgyz Republic Highlights: Sunil Chhetri BREAKS Puskas’ RECORD, Sandesh Jhingan on TARGET as India beat Kyrgyzstan to win Tri-Nation Friendly Tournament- Watch Highlights

The award of the spot kick certainly came as a matter of double delight for the home fans. It wasn’t only the second goal for India, but also the 85th international strike in his career for the Indian captain Sunil Chhetri. As the legend of Indian football stepped up to take the kick and then strike it to the corner of the net, the joy of the spectators knew no bounds.

While Chhetri coolly walked back to his position after doing something that he has been doing regularly for the Blue Tigers since 2006, Stimac was spotted having a broad smile on his face and hugging his assistant coach Mahesh Gawli, who once was Chhetri’s teammate in the National Team.

Overall, India were the deserving winners, their fifth straight win on home turf. Stimac made six changes from the team that started against Myanmar, but it didn’t at all break their rhythm. In fact, India could have won by a bigger margin – the Kyrgyz Republic goal had a few close shaves as a couple of attempts from Chhetri and Chhangte missed the target by a whisker.

If preparations for the AFC Asian Cup in January next was the chief purpose of hosting the tournament, then it was definitely a success – the Indians clearly displayed that they were growing in confidence before they take up the all-important continental challenge.

India vs Kyrgyz Republic Highlights: Sunil Chhetri BREAKS Puskas’ RECORD, Sandesh Jhingan on TARGET as India beat Kyrgyzstan to win Tri-Nation Friendly Tournament- Watch Highlights

India XI:

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Anirudh Thapa, Suresh Wangjam, Brandon Fernandes, Sunil Chhetri (C), Anwar Ali, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Pritam Kotal, Jeakson Singh

Kyrgyz Republic XI

Tokotaev Erzhan (gk), Kozubaev Tamirlan, Akmatov Aizar, Uzdenov Magamed, Batyrkanov Ernist, Alykulov Gulzhigit, Sagynbaev Bekzan(c), Mishchenko Aleksander, Zhyrgalbek Uulu Kairat, Shukurov Alimardon, Atabaev Erbol

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