India vs Pakistan, SAFF Championship 2023 Highlights: Sunil Chhetri nets hat-trick as India blank Pakistan 4-0

India start their SAFF Championship campaign in style!

A gem of a performance from the Indian team as they have dominated Pakistan right from the start. A fine hat-trick by Indian captain Sunil Chhetri and a late goal from substitute Udanta sealed a 4-0 convincing victory for the hosts.

STAT! This is the fifth victory for India out of six games in recent times.

It's all over! Skipper Chhetri nets hat-trick as India blank Pakistan 4-0 in their opening match

Talismanic striker Chhetri has scored 90 international goals so far and is just 10 goals away from the century!

Six minutes have been shown as added time by the fourth referee.

90' - The regulation time is over and the crowd is singing India, India to back their team

87' - Substitution for India (Liston - IN, Chhetri - OUT)

85’ - Free kick for Pakistan just outside the box but Nabi shoots it way off the target!

81' - And it's a goal!! Substitute Udanta scores to give India 4-0 lead. A great ball over the top from Anwar for Udanta who beats the off-side trap and calmly slots it in.

80' - 10 minutes to go for regulation time and India are still looking for a goal

76' - Two more substitutions for India : (Udanta - IN, Chhangte - OUT; Mahesh - IN, Kuruniyan - OUT)

74' - GOALLLL! Chhetri scores a hat-trick as India lead 3-0. Once again Indian skipper scores from the spot.

73' - Penalty for India after Chhetri is brought down inside the box by Sufyan

70' - A Chhetri fan has entered the field to meet the Indian captain resulting in a short break in play as the security guys rush in to take him out of bounds.

67’ - Ohhh! Jeakson’s header crashes onto the crossbar. Chhangte sends a fine ball from a free kick near the half line and Jeakson heads it perfectly only to find the crossbar and an alert Pak goalie Hanif pushes it out for a corner.

65' - Two Substitutions for India (Rohit - IN and Thapa - OUT; Poojary - IN Pritam - OUT)

62' - Corner for Pakistan but Indian goalie Amrinder punches it away.

59' - Pakistan player Dost is down on the field after a tackle from behind with Jhingan.

57'- Corner for India but it doesn't bring out any outcome.

54’ Two substitutions for Pakistan (OUT: Hayat IN: Niyazi; OUT: Bashir IN: Dost)

51' - Chhangte crosses the ball towards Ashique from inside the box and he goes for a long ranger but it goes out for a goal kick

ICYMI - Chhetri's Goals!

49' - India on the attack but striker Samad misses a sitter inside the box as it could have been easily made the scoreline 3-0 in favour of India. Ashique sends a fine cross from the left inside the box and Pak goalie Hanif fumbles while saving it but Samad makes a mess of it.

Here we go! The second half action gets underway

Players are making their way in the middle for the second half

India on top after first half!

It was an action-packed first half with India clearly the dominating side between both the teams. Skipper Chhetri is the player of the match so far as he scored two beautiful goals. The only blemish was the red card being shown to India coach Stimac after he tried to grab the ball from a Pakistan player which resulted a skirmish between the players of both the teams.

HALF-TIME - Sunil Chhetri scores a brace as India lead 2-0 against Pakistan at the break

Corner for India in the added time on the right flank but no outcome

Pakistan manager gets Yellow card too. Jinghan and Nabi have also been booked.

RED CARD!!! for India coach Igor Stimac - who tries to grab the ball from a Pakistan player resulting in a fight breaking out between the players.

45' - A fight in the middle between the players of both the teams which is not good for the spirit of the game

42' - Attack from India as they flooded the opposition’s box and attempt a couple of shots but nothing comes out of it.

39' - It's raining heavily at the moment in Bengaluru but that's the beauty of the game that it hardly gets any hindrance with such things.

37' - Pakistan get the corner as Otis Jan sends a fine ball inside the box but Indian goalie Amrinder punches it away

Chhetri - Man of the moment!

35' - The Indian attackers are not giving any breathing space to Pakistani defence.

30' - Chhetri takes it from just outside the box but it goes wide of the right post

30' - FREE KICK! Foul on Ashique Kuruniyan as yellow card for Pakistan's Muhammad Umar Hayat

26' - Corner for India as Thapa sends in a short pass for Jeakson, who goes for an ambitious shot which is off target

25' - A shot on the turn by ever-sharp Chhangte but it is easily collected by Pakistani 'keeper.

23' - Chhangte takes the free-kick after being brought down by Nabi. Thapa sends in a curler but Jeakson heads it wide

20' - Attack from Pakistan as Otis Jan dodges past two players on the left flank but is finally thwarted near the box.

Chhetri on fire!

15' GOAL!!! Chhetri makes it 2-0 for India

15' - Penalty for India!

10' - GOAL!!!!! Chhetri scores to give India 1-0 lead