By Nilanjan Datta,
AIFF Media Team

India 2 (Sunil Chhetri – 14^th and 88th)

draw with

Bangladesh 2 (Mithun Chowdhury – 52^nd; Hemanta Biswas – 64^th)

MARGAO: Scoring is all about habit or should we say about taking responsibility? We leave you to find the answer.

Fans always back their hero to score whenever they play. Indian National team Captain Sunil Chhetri, invariably doesn’t disappoint his vast legion of fans.

Going into the match leading his ‘mentor’ Bhaichung Bhutia by a goal as India’s highest-ever goalscorer in International Football on 43 goals, Chhetri increased his tally to 44 International Goals in the 14^th minute itself.

Any other would have been enveloped in the mode, having already scored one. But the greatness of the man makes him stand tall among all Indian Strikers across all decades – all because of his strike rate. With his Team staring at defeat at 1-2 in the 89^th minute, Chhetri rose to the occasion again – this time with a stunner which rejuvenated the crowd again.

Courtesy the double strike, India’s International Friendly against Bangladesh ended two-all. Down by a goal at the interval, Mithun Chowdhury and Hemanta Biswas  scored one each for the visitors in the second half.

One will be debating for long as to which of Chhetri’s strike was better.

The first goal set the tone as India in the first half. The Robin Singh-Chhetri combination, transpiring right from the drawing board paved the way for it. Sunil essayed it to Robin who shielded his marker and played the wall-pass to set up Chhetri all in the clear. A composed Chhetri gratefully gathered it, entered the rival box and even as rival Goalkeeper Sahidul Alam tried to narrow the angle, Chhetri curled it past him into the far corner.

Some five minutes earlier, a diving Sahidul, nevertheless, had denied Chhetri from putting India in the lead. Chhetri, that time, had tried to curl it on Sahidul’s right side after Francis Fernandes had found him in the clear.

Off the resultant corner, Sahidul fumbled to collect Mehtab Hossain’s delivery but the Bangladesh defence managed to clear the danger prior to anyone pulling the trigger.

For the second goal, Chhetri followed Arnab Mondal's long-ball which sailed over the Bangladesh defence and volleyed it in. It wasn’t from the drawing board, rather it had class written all over it. And it set the tone for the match.

The combination of Robin Singh and Sunil Chhetri kept the Bangladesh defence guessing all throughout. In the 42^nd minute, Robin, faster than any off the blocks, anticipated it right and went past two rival defenders but with only Sahidul to beat, his placement hit the latter. That was easily the easiest chance of the first half.

The last three minutes of the first half witnessed two raspers form both sides. First, Clifford Miranda’s boomer just sailed past and the very next minute, Sohail Rana’s long-ranger was fisted away by Indian Goalkeeper Subrata Paul.

India’s pressing Football was on display right from the kick-off. Bangladesh did seize the initiative early trying to push India on the backfoot. But the pressing football which is slowly turning into India’s trademark under National Koevermans made the rival opposition push back instead. There was always support for the other and the interchanging kept Bangladesh guessing.

By the half-hour mark, Francis and Clifford Miranda had interchanged flanks.

Chhetri always stayed the spare man in the midfield. So much so, that Jamal Bhunyian couldn’t flourish into his playmaking role as he had to keep a tab on the Indian Captain’s movements.

India made a double substitution as both Teams changed over – Victorino Fernandes and Rocus Lamare replacing Clifford Miranda and Mehtab Hossain respectively.

Bangladesh pulled it back in the 52^nd minute – Mithun Chowdhury tapping it in after a Sohel Rana centre deflected off Arnab Mondal for Mithun to find the net.

In the 62^nd minute, Balwant Singh replaced Robin to make his International debut – the 477^th Footballer to play for India.

Two minutes later, Bangladesh took the lead, Arnab Mondal, in a desperate attempt to keep away a Hemanta Biswas cross down the right flank, deflected into his own net. It happened in the 65^th minute.

Bangladesh looked much more purposeful in the second-half. India’s thrust was nowhere to be found. Mehtab’s snatching abilities was being missed and the confidence, all of a sudden, seemed to collapse. Bangladesh played the one-twos and played it in the gaps. There were deft touches, feints and clean precision passing. India chased. 

However, Bangladesh had a close shave in the 82^nd minute. Sahidul was out just in time to deny substitute Alwyn and off the rebound, Yeasin Khan just managed to keep off Chhetri’s placement. And if that wasn’t enough, Victorino’s header was tipped over by Sahidul.

Even as India pushed the pedal, Bangladesh were not to be subdued. But Chhetri’s brilliance frustrated them once again.

Meanwhile, Subrata Paul was given marching orders for his second booking in the match in injury time but Bangladesh weren’t able to capitalise on the free-kick from just outside the box.

INDIA: Subrata Paul; Denzil Franco, Aiborlang Khongjee, Arnab Mondal, Narayan Das; Francis Fernandes (Alwyn George – 78^th), Mehtab Hossain (Rocus Lamare – 46^th), Lenny Rodrigues, Clifford Miranda (Victorino Fernandes – 46^th), Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh (Balwant Singh – 62^nd).