<p>Skipper Sunil Chhetri found the target twice to power India to a crushing 4-0 win over Guam for their second win in as many matches in the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers here on Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>With this victory, India, who have six points, stayed very much in contention for a berth in the next year’s AFC Challenge Cup.<br /><br />Chhetri found the net in the 49th and 91st minute while the other two goals were scored by Clifford Miranda (68th) and Jewel Raja (80th) at the Youth Training Centre.<br /><br />The Indians were completely off colour in the first half, but came out all guns blazing after the change of ends, with Chhetri leading from the front.<br /><br />After a goalless first half, Chhetri drew the first blood four minutes after resumption. He followed Lenny Rodrigues’ through pass, beat the off-side trap and slotted past the rival goalkeeper Douglas Herrick, much to the relief of the Indian dugout. The floodgates opened after the first strike.<br /><br />The second one came nineteen minutes later with Miranda blasting home a left-footer after being set up by Mehtab Hossain. Jewel made it 3-0 with a perfect execution after collecting a pass from substitute CK Vineeth. Chhetri scored the fourth, heading in a Mehtab corner in the 91st minute.<br /><br />The goal took Chhetri’s tally of goals to 40, two short of India’s all-time top scorer, former captain Bhaichung Bhutia.<br /><br />It was a tactical display by the Indians against an opposition, who looked ultra-defensive at times. <br /><br />Finding it difficult to break free among the crowd of legs, the Indians preferred to use the flanks in the second half and open up the rivals.<br /><br />India had defeated Chinese Taipei 2-1 in their opening match.<br /><br />India had their first chance in the 19th minute when Syed Rahim Nabi found Jewel inside the box. Jewel trapped it, sidestepped Guam’s central defender Travis Nicklaw but shot wide. <br /><br />India earned couple of corners but it didn’t yield any result. In the 39th minute, a counter-attack saw Mehtab feeding Chhetri inside the box, but the fate didn’t change as both teams went to the break with a clean slate.<br /><br />Changing over, the urgency was visible right from the kick-off. In the 46th minute, Miranda’s close range effort sailed over. And almost immediately, India surged ahead. Lenny split the rival defence which saw Chhetri beat the off-side trap to slot home.<br /><br />Chhetri’s powerful header off a Raju Gaikwad throw-in narrowly sailed over again in the 58th. Guam however couldn’t contain the Indians for long as the Vim Koevermans’ men fired in three goals after that.</p>
<p>Skipper Sunil Chhetri found the target twice to power India to a crushing 4-0 win over Guam for their second win in as many matches in the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers here on Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>With this victory, India, who have six points, stayed very much in contention for a berth in the next year’s AFC Challenge Cup.<br /><br />Chhetri found the net in the 49th and 91st minute while the other two goals were scored by Clifford Miranda (68th) and Jewel Raja (80th) at the Youth Training Centre.<br /><br />The Indians were completely off colour in the first half, but came out all guns blazing after the change of ends, with Chhetri leading from the front.<br /><br />After a goalless first half, Chhetri drew the first blood four minutes after resumption. He followed Lenny Rodrigues’ through pass, beat the off-side trap and slotted past the rival goalkeeper Douglas Herrick, much to the relief of the Indian dugout. The floodgates opened after the first strike.<br /><br />The second one came nineteen minutes later with Miranda blasting home a left-footer after being set up by Mehtab Hossain. Jewel made it 3-0 with a perfect execution after collecting a pass from substitute CK Vineeth. Chhetri scored the fourth, heading in a Mehtab corner in the 91st minute.<br /><br />The goal took Chhetri’s tally of goals to 40, two short of India’s all-time top scorer, former captain Bhaichung Bhutia.<br /><br />It was a tactical display by the Indians against an opposition, who looked ultra-defensive at times. <br /><br />Finding it difficult to break free among the crowd of legs, the Indians preferred to use the flanks in the second half and open up the rivals.<br /><br />India had defeated Chinese Taipei 2-1 in their opening match.<br /><br />India had their first chance in the 19th minute when Syed Rahim Nabi found Jewel inside the box. Jewel trapped it, sidestepped Guam’s central defender Travis Nicklaw but shot wide. <br /><br />India earned couple of corners but it didn’t yield any result. In the 39th minute, a counter-attack saw Mehtab feeding Chhetri inside the box, but the fate didn’t change as both teams went to the break with a clean slate.<br /><br />Changing over, the urgency was visible right from the kick-off. In the 46th minute, Miranda’s close range effort sailed over. And almost immediately, India surged ahead. Lenny split the rival defence which saw Chhetri beat the off-side trap to slot home.<br /><br />Chhetri’s powerful header off a Raju Gaikwad throw-in narrowly sailed over again in the 58th. Guam however couldn’t contain the Indians for long as the Vim Koevermans’ men fired in three goals after that.</p>