Football
ISL Player of the Week: Aging like fine wine, Sunil Chhetri remains lethal
Sunil Chhetri's late surge against Mohammedan SC in ISL meant that Bengaluru FC remained at the top of the points table.
At 40, former Indian skipper and Bengaluru FC striker Sunil Chhetri is still lighting up the Indian Super League with ease.
Bengaluru FC's talisman was the reason the club registered a comeback win against the newly promoted Mohammedan SC and continued its reign at the top of the points table.
Mohammedan started well against the table-toppers Bengaluru FC and took a lead in the eighth minute when Ceasar Manzoki scored from a header.
Mohammedan was comfortable in the lead until Sunil Chhetri stepped on the pitch in the 53rd minute as a substitute.
The veteran striker was quick to get in the action and started troubling Mohammedan's goalkeeper Bhaskar Roy. In the 64th minute, Chhetri saw his shot saved by Bhaskar with a full-stretch dive.
Four minutes later, Bhaskar saved Sunil's curling free-kick and the writing was on the wall that Sunil Chhetri is looking to score.
In the 82nd minute, Manzoki was caught holding Pedro Capo back in the box during a corner, forcing referee John to gift Bengaluru FC a spot kick.
The experienced campaigner stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted the ball past Bhaskar Roy to make it 1-1 for Bengaluru FC.
It was a historic goal as it made Sunil Chhetri the only player in the history of ISL to score against all 15 ISL teams and extended his record for most penalty goals in the competition (20).
As the game moved towards the added time, Chhetri emerged in the 99th minute to head a cross from the left flank and it deflected off the Mohammedan defender Florent Ogier to nestle in the back of the net completing the comeback for Bengaluru FC.
While the goal was noted as an own goal, it was a goal made by Sunil Chhetri's supreme positioning in the box and his predatory movements.
The former Indian skipper has four goals and one assist in the league and he is the highest goal scorer for the table toppers Bengaluru FC.
In a time when the young Indian strikers are struggling to get goals in the league, Sunil Chhetri still proves to be lethal aging like a fine wine.
