‘Ek saal hum World Cup bhi jeetenge’ – Fans react as India thrash Pakistan 4-0 in 2023 SAFF Championship match

The Indian football team led by Sunil Chhetri defeated Pakistan 4-0 on Wednesday, June 21 to win their opening game of the SAFF Championship 2023. The Indian team controlled the game from start to finish, as the Blue Tigers thumped their opponents, thanks to a hat-trick from Chhetri. At the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, India kept the opponents away from scoring as the Indian side registered yet another clean sheet.

India, who had won the Intercontinental Cup, continued their recent dominance in the SAFF Championship. When the Pakistani goalkeeper lost the ball in front of the box as Indian captain Chhetri waited for his opportunity, it led to the team’s and his first goal of the match. India took the 1-0 as the skipper of the team managed to get the ball past the keeper. With a penalty kick shortly after, Chhetri increased the 1-0 advantage to 2-0.

Sunil Chhetri guides India to victory over Pakistan

However, there was an argument during the game between Pakistani players and Indian head coach Igor Stimac in the first half. India scored two goals in the first half.

India continued to press in the second half as well. They continued to press for further opportunities, and Sunil Chhetri was hit in the box by a Pakistani defender and he was granted another penalty. Chhetri made the most of the chance to score his 90th international goal and give India a 3-0 lead and with this goal, he completed his hat-trick as well. They were afterwards kept offside by Udanta Singh, who then scored another goal past the goalie to end the game 4-0.

Since September 2018, India and Pakistan had not played football together. India had won the SAFF tournament quarterfinal over the neighbours 3-1 five years ago. India’s next opponents after defeating Pakistan are Nepal who they will play on June 24 and Kuwait on June 27. Following today’s game, Pakistan will play Kuwait on June 24 and Nepal on June 27.

Here’s how fans reacted to India’s victory over Pakistan in SAFF Championship 2023:

Well played 👍❤️

— Surojit Chakraborty (@Surojit454) June 21, 2023

Well played champions! Hats off to @chetrisunil11 ! Jai Hind 🇮🇳!

— Dr Saurabh S Sachar 🇮🇳 (@doc_sacharr) June 21, 2023

Jay Hind 🇮🇳

— Wellu (@Wellutwt) June 21, 2023

https://twitter.com/alvarez_szn19/status/1671549254912057346

My cb Anwar ❤️❤️, what a beautiful player

— Gaurav Vibhute🧋 (@GAGROZ) June 21, 2023

Should hv defeated 5-0 😡

— 카우시크 (@Ikmitra1) June 21, 2023

so goood boys! 🇮🇳💙

— 😾 (@vinxi_) June 21, 2023

Bande Mataram… Bharat Mata ki Jay 🇮🇳🇮🇳

— Subhodeep Nandy (@nandysubhodeep1) June 21, 2023

🤗

— RAHUL JS (@rahuljs003) June 21, 2023

😍😍😍🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🤌🤌🤌

— Faheem Rafiq Khader (@KhaderFaheem) June 21, 2023