2016 – the year the men’s national team finished with their best-ever world ranking of 135 – was an upbeat one for Indian football with history being scripted on the continental front by more than one club and the women’s national team’s continued dominance in regional competition among other achievements.
The I-league saw Bengaluru FC crowned champions and so did the ISL with Atletico de Kolkata – both for the second time in their respective histories, and several new starlets such as Jeje Lalpekhlua stepped firmly into the spotlight.
With so much to cheer and celebrate, here are five of the very best moments over the last year of Indian football.
#5 India National Men’s team beats Puerto Rico 4 – 1
It was not just the fact that their opponents were ranked several places higher – 114th in the world to be exact – but the manner of victory and the scoreline that made this game among the most memorable of the five wins for Stephen Constantine’s men last year.
In the first international fixture to be played at Mumbai Football Arena since its renovation, the Blue Tigers conceded an early penalty but came back to win in emphatic fashion – prompting calls on Twitter to host future World Cup qualifiers in Andheri where they would hopefully have better luck than they did in Bengaluru.
The only team in need of luck in this encounter though were Puerto Rico who went in 3 – 1 down at half time and were fortunate to finish the match with only four goals conceded. Be sure to catch the two fantastic free kicks by Sunil Chhetri that set India on their way in the highlights above.
#4 Gurpreet Singh Sandhu makes a Europa League appearance
Ever since his move to Norway’s Stabaek in 2014, the 24-year-old has continued to move from strength to strength – becoming the first Indian player to play for the first team of a top division club in European football and now in 2016 becoming the first Indian to make an appearance in the Europa League.
While he ended up playing only 30 minutes of the tie, having to be subbed off with a suspected thumb injury, his name is forever etched in the history books and nothing can take that away from the Punjab-born lad who also wears the captaiSingaporeand for the national team now.
A proud moment both for him as well as Indian football fans collectively, just as he and India continue their uphill climb in the world of football.
#3 Indian women’s team lifts its fourth consecutive SAFF trophy
While the team technically lifted the trophy in the calendar year 2017, they were champions of the 2016 edition of the SAFF Women’s Championship – just as they have been every time since the biennial tournament’s inception.
In fact, their dominance has been so absolute that they are yet to be beaten having finished four editions of the tournament, and will actually consider this year’s performance a little offbeat – with a goal difference of only +8 as compared to the +40, +32 and +35 in the first three editions respectively.
Massive respect and admiration for the team mostly dominated by players from Manipur and Odisha, and a silent prayer in hopes that the fiery passion is ignited across the rest of the nation.
#2 Mohun Bagan’s make it through first qualifying round of the AFC Champions League
Right at the beginning of 2016, 2015 I-league champions Mohun Bagan made history by becoming the first Indian team to make it past the first qualifying round of the AFC Champions League. With Jeje Lalpekhlua opening the scoring early, the hosts led Singaporean Tampines Rovers 2 – 1 at half time and stood firm in the face of considerable pressure in the second half – even adding a third goal late in the game – to make it through.
Of course, the Singaporean club would have their revenge in the AFC Cup, but it would take nothing away from the piece that Bagan contributed to a year of historic firsts in Indian football.
#1 Sunil Chhetri lifts Bengaluru FC into the final of the AFC Cup
The longstanding talisman of Indian football, Sunil Chhetri was a huge part of the history that India made last year – this screamer of a goal in the top corner being just one glorious part of it. It was the goal that gave Bengaluru FC the lead in the game and indeed the tie for the first time, spurring the fans to believe the I-League champions could be the first Indian club to make it past the semi-final stage of the AFC Cup.
They had to overcome their group tormentors Johor Darul Ta’zim to do so, and they did in style. Just take a moment to admire this beauty of a goal, and it’s sure to leave you smiling and optimistic about the future of Indian football.
