Chetri hattrick for India

Sunday, 21. February 2010 - IndianFootball.Com reporter

Sunil Chetri scored a brilliant hattrick to guide India to a 3-1 victory over UAE-based Al Shaab Club of Sharjah in a friendly played at the Al Shaab Stadium last night.

The Senior Indian National team are currently in Dubai on a twenty day training camp.

Both the teams played fast attacking soccer with the Indian lads coming close to scoring in the eighth minute with Chetri lobbying the ball over the cross bar. He however made amends in the twenty second minute after receiving a precise pass from Anthony Pereira to run across the goal and slot the ball into the net beyond the reach of the Al Shaab custodian. Four minutes later a hard working Steven Dias sent in a perfect cross from the right to find Chetri who had no hesitation in heading the ball into the net for the second time. Al Shaab recovered well and raided the Indian territory but defenders Syed Rahim Nabi, Surkumar Singh and keeper Subhashish Roy Choudhury rose to the occasion. The first half ended with a 2-0 lead for the Indians.

The second half began as the first half ended with the Indian lads launching into attack. Captain Climax Lawrence who also had a great game sent a precise pass to Chetri who sighted goal from the top of the eighteen yard box and sent in a stinging shot to complete his hattrick. The game got livelier with Al Shaab putting pressure on the Indian half and were rewarded when Abdulla scored a consolation in the eightieth minute placing the ball into the far corner of the goal beyond the reach of Subhashish.

Head Coach Bob Houghton was pleased with the players performance and was fully satisfied as one could easily see that the boys played their hearts out and executed all that they are thought during the training sessions.

The team have a rest day today and will continue their training sessions until they leave Dubai on February 26.