Chhetri breaks Bangladesh hearts just as before
Sunil Chhetri proved to be Bangladesh's nemesis just as before as the India skipper's later brace earned the Blue Tigers a good 2-0 gain against the men in red and green in their World Glass/Asian Glass qualifying fixture in the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium found in Doha last night.
The 36-year-old turned the fate of the overall game decisively towards India -- a clinical header on 78 a few minutes and a clever chip in stoppage time -- to deny Janie Day's charges a third point in this qualifying fixture, which had looked like there for the taking as the game had progressed.
With the clock ticking down and Bangladesh growing in confidence, and even throwing bodies forward in search of an objective, the Bengaluru FC striker ran into space at the far post, losing the Bangladesh defenders on a properly weighted cross from Ashique Kurunian and beat goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico with a header to the far corner of the net.
That goal was enough to break the morale of Day's costs, who had displayed wonderful protective organisation and discipline to keep Igor Stimac's men at bay despite enjoying a quarter of possession.
Bangladesh, who had earned plaudits from just about anybody for their 1-1 pull against the same opposition on the reverse fixture in Kolkata two years ago, continued to find an equaliser. India, today playing with the blissful luxury of the business lead, with Chhetri chipping the ball over the Riyadul Hasan Rafi into the top part of the web after collecting a cross from Suresh Singh.
The India skipper was all but neutralised for the reason that famous match, but yesterday he showed his class again, scoring his fourth and fifth goals against Bangladesh in four latest meetings, taking his overall international tally to 75 goals.
The defeat all but ends Bangladesh's likelihood of direct qualification for the third spherical of Asian Cup Qualifiers as the men in red and green - bottom of Group E with only two points -- would look to have another shot at qualification through playoffs, to occur in September and October this year. For now they will have seven days to develop going back match of the next circular, against Oman on June 15.
Bangladesh were from the fighting 1-1 draw against Afghanistan while India within their previous match transpired 1-0 against Qatar despite playing most the time with 10 men.
Bangladesh coach Day went on with just one change, Manik Molla replacing the hurt Sohel Rana on midfield.
With Rafi clearing Jinglesana Singh's header from the goalline in the initial half and India forwards missing several free headers on set-pieces later, it appeared as if Bangladesh were on their way to extending their sequence of draws against their neighbours, but Chhetri conjured two clinical finishes to help make the difference.
