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Chhetri Stars for India

DUBAI — Sunil Chhetri scored a brilliant hat-trick to guide the Indian National team to a 3-1 victory over UAE based Al Shaab Club of Sharjah in a friendly played at the Al Shaab Stadium Saturday night.

The Senior Indian National team are currently in Dubai on a twenty day training camp under Head Coach Bob Houghton, a press release said.

Both the teams played fast attacking football with the Indian lads coming close to scoring in the eighth minute with Chhetri lobbying the ball over the cross bar. He however made amends in the 22^nd minute after receiving a precise pass from Anthony Fernandes 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 Chhetri 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 Rahim Nabi, Sukumar Singh and keeper Subhashish Choudhury rose to the occasion.

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 Chhetri who sighted goal from the top of the eighteen yard box and sent in a stinging shot to complete his hat-trick.

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 Subashish.

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 had a rest day on Friday and will continue their training sessions until they leave Dubai on February 26.