India thump Puerto Rico 4-1

Mumbai: Experienced Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri had a role in all three first half goals as India upset a lethargic Puerto Rico 4-1 in an International friendly at the Andheri Sports Complex here on Saturday.

The all-time top goal scorer for India assisted twice and scored in between to give India two goal advantage at the first half. Narayan Das and Jeje Lalpekhlua were the other scorers as India rallied strongly after Emmanuel Sanchez scored from the spot in the seventh minute. Jackichand Singh sealed the affair in the second half dominated surprisingly by 152-ranked hosts against 114-ranked Puerto Rico.

Chhetri was masterful, especially in the first half posing regular problems to jet-lagged visitor’s defence. He was supported well by Jeje upfront. Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Jackichand were livewires in midfield while Arnab Mondal led the defence well.  

It was a slow build up to the game from Puerto Rico who had arrived with 15-member squad on Friday evening and soon took to practice to get some feel of conditions. A nervy India conceded an early penalty after Elliot Velez was tackled by Jakichand. Emmanuel Sanchez found right far corner with ease.

With a vociferous crowd nearing 7000, India pressed hard for the equaliser and they were rewarded ten minutes later when a nice tricky one-two between Chhetri and Bikash Jairu produced a freekick. Chhetri’s drove his effort onto the upright but Das placed it nicely on the rebound.

Chhetri was on target in the second shot at goal in the 24th minute after firing in a free-kick. His low shot struck the inner side of post to roll in. India kept attacking effectively. Jakichand’s ball from the right to Jeje in the centre gave India another sniff at goal but Jeje’s lob was just over. But the Mizoram striker was soon on the scoresheet after he placed header into the net obliging a headed assist by Chhetri who was fed well with a cross from Pritam Kotal from the right.

India continued to dominate in the second half and had an early chance to further strengthen their lead but Jackichand’s powerful shot was straight to goalkeeper.

The visitors showed some urgency and reached close but Micheal Ramos was unlucky to find the post. The visitors changed goalkeeper Santana with Christofer Echevarria but he too was beaten by Jackichand in the 58th minute, slotting the ball hard into net from acute angle after a mistimed header aimed at goal by Lyngdoh on Jeje’s cross. Echevarria though saved his team from further disgrace after stretching full to his left to deny Jeje. Sanchez later found the upright which summed up the visitor’s story. India made too many changes upfront and in the midfield towards the end handing debut to likes of Germanpreet Singh.