Sunil Chhetri's heroic goal against Vanuatu takes India to Intercontinental Cup Final

Sunil Chhetri's goal in the 81st minute secured India's 1-0 victory over Vanuatu in the Intercontinental Cup, securing their place in the final.

Sunil Chhetri, the captain of the Indian football team and soon-to-be father, once again played the role of hero by scoring the decisive goal in India's 1-0 victory over Vanuatu in the Intercontinental Cup.  Chhetri's 81st-minute strike secured India's place in the final, easing the tension for both players and fans at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

Prior to this match, India had defeated Mongolia 2-0 in their opening game. With his goal, Chhetri, who now has 86 goals in 135 international matches, celebrated by revealing that he is expecting a child, sliding the ball beneath his jersey. His wife, Sonam, was shown applauding on the big screen. With two wins and six points, India currently leads the table.

Their final round-robin league match will be against Lebanon on Thursday. In a separate match, underdog Mongolia secured their first point in the tournament by holding Lebanon to a goalless draw.

Indian football has been making steady progress, but there is still a significant distance to cover in terms of development and competitiveness. While efforts have been made to enhance infrastructure, promote grassroots programs, and establish youth academies, the overall growth and performance of Indian football are still a work in progress.

Despite efforts to develop infrastructure, grassroots programs, and youth academies, the overall performance and competitiveness of Indian football still require significant improvement.

Continued investment, strategic planning, and the nurturing of talent are crucial to bridge the gap and elevate Indian football to higher levels on the global stage.