2) Indian tactics played out to perfection
Whilst Chhetri stole the show with his brilliant performance, the team’s execution, as well as Constantine’s plans have to be given due respect. The Indians were deployed in a 4-4-2 on paper, but Constantine realised soon after the start of the game that they were getting outplayed in central midfield. And the game changed when Constantine went 4-4-1-1 with Chhetri dropping deep.
While Chhetri helped control the pace of the game, Jeje Lalpekhlua was his opportune self and ran the channels with ferocity. Eugeneson Lyngdoh, meanwhile, was mesmerising with his touch on the ball and the precision of his passing. It was soon enough that Jackichand Singh joined the party and could have had the moment of the game when he tried an audacious chip from nearly 40 yards out.
The defence also looked sound for most parts of the game barring the start as Arnab Mondal and Sandesh Jhingan bossed Emanuel Sanchez. Whilst Narayan Das sparkled only for a little while, it was an important touch. A miss from the rebound would have let the shoulders drop and the after-effects could have been pretty different.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu also came good when called upon and it was a welcome change to see him commanding in the air as well.
