10:15 pm: That’s it from us tonight. We leave you with this video as Chhetri and Co are given a rousing reception at the end of the match. A memorable night. Stay tuned for the report, and more from Arka Bhattacharya.
10:10 pm: India eventually deserving winners and qualify for the final on 10th June.
Full-time statistics from #Chhetri100:
FULL-TIME: Sunil Chhetri issued to a rallying call to the fans, and they turned up in numbers tonight to mark a special night for Indian Football. And Captain Fantastic takes his team around the stadium, thanking the fans.
FULL-TIME: India 3-0 Kenya
Arka: Brilliant link up play from Balwant Singh as the substitute passes the ball to Chhetri who runs clear and chips the Kenyan keeper. You can see how much that goal meant to the skipper as he goes over to the fans to celebrate.
90+: India 3-0 Kenya, Chhetri again!
GOALLL, INDIA! Captain, legend and scorer of fantastic goals! Chhetri with a marvellous chipped finish into extra time... and the crowd goes wild! Chants of ‘Chhetri, Chhetri!’
After 90 mins, India 2-0 Kenya
Into the extra time... of which there are 5 mins. A win is nearly in the bag for India.
After 87 mins, India 2-0 Kenya
Indian defence under pressure to keep the clean sheet here. Not the prettiest phase of play in this game with a defenders just trying to heave the ball clear, but effective for now. Gurpreet is in full voice. Meanwhile, Balwant replaces Jeje. Another big chance from down the left for Kenya, as Jhingan’s absence is proving to be an issue, seemingly. But the Kenyan blasts it over the goal from tight angle.
After 81 mins, India 2-0 Kenya
Kenya pushing forward now, there is a break in play as well for Sandhesh Jhingan’s injury, who is eventually substituted off. Thapa makes way for Rowlin Borges.
Arka: A round of K’naan’s ‘Waving Flag’ going on now. Well, the World Cup is around the corner.
After 75 mins, India 2-0 Kenya - JEJE SCORES!
And in the 71st minute, Jeje extends India’s lead. Rifling a rebound into the top corner from the edge of the box. No chance for the goalkeeper.
Arka: Hello crowd, meet voice! It’s only fitting that Jeje scores in Chhetri’s 100th outing. Chhetri had yesterday spoken about a kid who he had seen grow up in front of his own eyes and complete his own half century of appearances. Tonight, the Mizo kid strikes as a mark of honour towards the veteran.
A moment to remember for Chhetri, Arka has more: Hour, man, cometh, make up your own phrase as Chhetri makes his own piece of history. Drives it hard to the goalies right and although the Kenya custodian gets a touch to it, is powerless to stop it.
After 70 mins, India 1-0 Kenya - CHHETRI SCORES!
GOAL NO 60 FOR INDIA IN APPEARANCE NO 100! Chhetri scores from the spot after a significant delay and the crowd erupts! He went for power towards the GK left, who gets a hand to it but can only deflect it into the net.
WHAT A MOMENT!
After 65 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
Getting closer and closer! After Udanta’s dangerous cutback finds no one in blue in the box, best chance for India. Another great long-range strike from Pronay (remember his goal against Taipei?) and the Kenyan GK makes a great save. Superb little phase for India this, but the goal hasn’t come just yet.
OH! A penalty for INDIA in the 65th minute! Chhetri has won this one! Was this inside the box? A foul, but this must have been just outside the D.
After 60 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
India have grown into this match... sustained pressure on the Kenyan goal. Chhetri had another chance after the free kick resulted in a corner. His powerful hit was well wide though. Another long range effort from the left flank, straight to the GK. Narzary is impressing down the left flank.
After 57 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
10 mins into the second half and it’s already a much better spectacle, with the rain relenting. Kenya with two big chances as we said earlier, followed by one for India - Chhetri gets himself into a tangle after a brilliant cross from the left flank. Chhetri lost track of that and it hit his standing foot! Big miss, to be honest.
And a chance for India... a free kick from a very dangerous position after a poor foul on Jeje. Chhetri lining this up... but hits the wall.
After 50 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
Well, Kenya have had two great chances at the start of the second half. Indian defence caught napping by two through balls in the air, too much gap between the central defenders. Both chances end up off target though.
Arka: Twice in succession, Kenya’s forwards have broken through the middle only to be denied by some poor finishing. Nervy moments for India
Second-half: And we’re back! “The rain’s completely stopped. I repeat, not a drop. Constantine must have been secretly hoping for this. It remains to be seen whether his men can take advantage,” says Arka Bhattacharya from the stadium.
Half-time: Raucous atmosphere even during half time... quite the response to Chhetri’s video!
HALF-TIME: India 0-0 Kenya
A wet first half comes to an end as both teams unable to get much going, given the conditions. Kenya edging it but the rain has made it tough for Chhetri and co.
After 42 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
This was turning out to be a very tough match to live blog, if we were to be totally honest. Only so many ways to say it’s raining and nothing really happening on the pitch! But thankfully looks like the rain has relented. India breaking forward but no end product. A deep free kick from the right by Thapa goes straight to the GK’s hands.
After 40 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
Chhetri unhappy with the referee for not giving a freekick at the edge of Kenya’s box as he tried to hold up play.
Update from Arka Bhattacharya: Finally, some respite as the rain shows some sign of easing up. Kenya, by virtue of being more physical have dominated the game but Pronay Halder’s combativeness has come in handy.
After 35 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
No real opening to report. Just more slipping and sliding. Jhingan gave a moment to cheer for the fans with an acrobatic ‘spiderman’ clearance to a long ball over defence.
Meanwhile, the pun game is strong with this one...
After 30 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
This is a very, very scrappy game of football now as the conditions worsen. Passes dragging along the field, crosses not bouncing after landing, shots from distance stopping short of goal keepers. Long ball will be the way to go, short passes, especially among defenders, could be very costly.
After 25 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
CHANCE FOR INDIA! Chhetri tries to take advantage of a poor clearance, his chip over the retreating Kenyan goalie goes just over the crossbar. Massive puddles around the field at Mumbai Football Arena, Andheri. Sustained pressure from Kenya now as they are camped in the Indian third. Clearances not coming easy for both sides. Treacherous conditions.
Arka Bhattacharya: The Mumbai crowd with a deafening roar as the captain’s floated shot just goes over the bar. That would have been some way to cap his 100th!
After 19 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
The Kenyan goalkeeper, cap and all that, playing a very high line. A Neuer-esque sweeper keeper role for him tonight, but India are unable to make the high line count just yet. Significant puddles being formed right now.
After 14 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
India growing into this game now. A freekick from right, cross put in by Chhetri but the GK gathers it safely at near post. Thapa and Narzary getting more control in the midfield now.
Arka Bhattacharya: Torrential downpour here. No other word to describe it. Conditions ominous as visibility reduces. Neither team able to do much against what can only be described as an ‘onslaught of rain’. The crowd haven’t lost their voice as ‘Chhetri, Chhetri’ rings out at the Mumbai Football Arena. This rain would have made Mawsynram proud. The forecast’s bleaker than Mumbai FC’s last season in the I league.
After 8 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
Despite the rain, a good turnout it looks like. Udanta has a chance to break forward, but the final cross from left wing is weak and hampered by the heavy outfield.
Arka Bhattacharya: Dusty, windy conditions at the Mumbai Football Arena for Chhetri’s 100th.An unchanged lineup from Stephen Constantine as India look to win and qualify for the final of the Intercontinental Cup
After 5 mins, India 0-0 Kenya
It’s absolutely pouring down in Andheri as Kenya start on the front foot. Chhetri’s first touch on the night was called offside. The Kenyan keeper has put a cap on for visibility.
08:00 pm: The national anthems are done... team photos taken... time for kick-off!
07:58 pm: Starting XIs... Chhetri, Jeje and Thapa linked very well against Taipei, can they repeat that tonight?
07: 55 pm: Kenya started their Intercontinental Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory against New Zealand but their head coach Sebastian Migne feels that his the side have a difficult game against hosts India.
“We’re happy to win, it was a fantastic opportunity for my players to discover a new continent and opposition. It was difficult for us to find good balance in the team because of the unavailability of players,” Migne said. “We were lucky to score in second half. The attitude was better. This will help the confidence of our players. I’m happy for my players, I’m glad with the local coach who started the camp in India,” said Migne, whose team landed just a day ahead of the match.
07:50 pm: Speaking ahead of his 100th game, Chhetri had this to say
“We need more better players than Chhetris instead of just Chhetri, because Chhetri has reached only 100. All the kids, who are good and want to play need to get better facilities, diet, coaching facilities and places to play. Are we tapping all the potential right now? No. The day we do that, then we can say that the best are out there. At the moment, we are not doing that.”
07:45 pm: Chhetri, one of the greatest footballers that India has produced, had made an impassioned plea to all the football fans in the county who passionately follow European clubs – “abuse us, criticise us but please come to watch the Indian national team play.”
The country’s all-time highest goal-score was speaking a day after his hat-trick helped India thrash (a depleted) Chinese Taipei side 5-0 in front of a sparse crowd at Mumbai Football Arena.
Tonight, however, it’s expected to be different with tickets apparently sold out. Our correspondent Arka Bhattacharya will have more on that as we go along.
07:35 pm: Tonight, the focus will be on winning of course, but it’s also about celebrating an incredible servant of Indian football, as Chhetri reaches a century of international caps. And he comes into the match on the back of a hat-trick... what do we have in store tonight?
07:30 pm: Hello all and welcome to The Field’s live blog of India’s second match at the Intercontinental Cup. It’s a very special night for everyone concerned with Indian football as captain, leader, legend Sunil Chhetri prepares to make his 100th appearance in India’s colours! Stay tuned for all the updates.