'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Thanks to yet another brace from captain fantastic, Sunil Chhetri and some resilient defensive play from the Men in Blue, is what had the Intercontinental Cup prize in the bag for India.
Their performance during tonight’s fixture was perhaps the best the Blue Tigers have had during their entire Intercontinental Cup campaign.
All departments on the pitch – be it Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the back four, midfield, or the strikers – showed robust strength to outperform Kenya in the finale of the competition tonight.
In humid weather conditions, Mumbai witnessed yet another trophy win for the Indian national football team, making it three trophies in three successive years.
Chhetri’s plea, sure did make a difference as the Mumbai Sports Arena located in the western regions of Andheri was sold out, yet again.
Both the goals of the match came in the first forty-five minutes itself, with Chhetri finishing each of them in as composed a manner as ever.
Before a passionate audience that filled up the stands to watch India clinch the win tonight, the captain and co. delivered on their promise of making it a worthwhile experience for the fans to come out and back the Blues.
Here are a few talking points from the finale of the 2018 Intercontinental Cup.
#1 Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
Being tested earlier on in the opening minutes as the action kicked off in Mumbai, Sandhu ensured he denied every shot that came his way.
He had control over the communication between his defence line and himself and certainly made his presence felt on the field compared to India’s second choice shot-stopper, Amrinder Singh who was included in the starting line-up against New Zealand.
The defenders had a clear sense of faith and mental comfort, knowing a 6”4 tall Gurpreet is standing tall in front of their goal.
The goalkeeper’s ability to shoot the ball up front towards his strikers and his success in finding them, waiting hungrily for the ball to land right at their feet was another crucial asset for Stephen Constantine’s side tonight.
While he wasn’t tested as much in the first half by the Kenyan side, the second forty-five minutes of the fixture saw majority of the ball floating in Indian half, going in and out of Sandhu’s box.
However, the attempts at goal from the team from Africa were effortlessly rejected by the Indian goalie.
#2 The Sunil Chhetri factor
Both of India's goals were scored by none other than their captain, Sunil Chhetri. The striker has been in exceptional form throughout the competition and has scored eight goals in the Intercontinental Cup of 2018.
His brace tonight leveled him Argentine captain, Lionel Messi on the list of active international goal scorers, taking his goal tally to a whopping 64 goals, in 102 appearances wearing the Blue shirt.
The man has led the team from the front and has set a true example of being the captain, performing in a time of need.
He has been an integral part of Coach Constantine’s tactics all through the campaign and none of the defenses of the other three participating countries were able to stop the Indian skipper from putting the ball in the back of the net.
#3 Anirudh Thapa: The Creator
The youngster has played a highly important role in holding India’s midfield together. His quick thinking and precision during India’s free-kick at the edge of the Kenyan box in the open minutes of the game opened the Blues’ as well as Chhetri’s goal kitty in the finale tonight.
This is not the first time Thapa has impressed in a match; in fact, he has been displaying some excellent football during the course of the tournament.
His ability to position himself in the right positions and releasing the ball with precision are only a few qualities that were put to show in India’s finale encounter against Kenya tonight.
#4 Udanta Singh's pace down the flanks
Udanta has been lethal on the planks for India. His speed burst, ball control, and vision to pass the ball around have made him a regular member of Coach Constantine’s tactics.
Tonight, he did exactly what was required of him and more, to only proved his worth more. The 21-year-old winger delivered an absolutely sensational performance for his country tonight.
With a display of incredible ball control and some magical touches that converted short passing into an attack in no time at all, Singh was simply brilliant tonight.
Not only down the wing, but his defensive play, frightening sliding tackles helped his back force to keep the ball away from the Indian box and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
#5 India's back-four
The second half comprised of bombarding attacks from the Kenyan side, which tested the resilience of the Indian defence.
For a moment or two, India looked to be on a constant back foot amid the rigorous attacking play from Sébastien Migné’s men, however, the men in blue had each and every Kenyan attack under control.
With Udanta, Thapa, Narzary, and even Balwant Singh falling back to help out the back four, the Blues managed to keep the ball away from their goal.
Combined with perfect coordinative communication with the goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who made a couple of breath-taking saves that completed his hattrick of clean sheets in the competition.
