<p class="title">Captain Sunil Chhetri couldn't have written a better script in his 100th international game as he struck twice to power India into the final of the Intercontinental Cup with a convincing 3-0 win over Kenya here on Monday night.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chhetri earned a penalty and broke the deadlock in the 68th minute while Jeje Lalpekhlua doubled the home team's lead with a pile-driver strike in the 71st minute.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chhetri ended it in the best possible manner, scoring in the stoppage time (90+1) off a Balwant Singh assist as fans went berserk.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The outpouring of emotion over the last two days was followed by a heavy downpour which threatened to play spoilsport. Puddles of water had formed in the field of play and what followed was a scrappy first half.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As the rain stopped, the groundsmen worked hard to get the water off the field throughout the half-time interval. The talismanic Chhetri will remember the groundsmen's efforts, which probably saved the landmark game from turning into an anti-climax.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After the game, the Blue Tigers walked up to the fans and acknowledged their presence, with Chhetri taking his players for a lap of honour as his proud family savoured the moment from the stands.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"If this is the kind of turnout that is going to come to watch us, we can give our lives on the pitch," an emotional Chhetri said after the match.</p>.<p class="bodytext">While the Kenyans looked better in the first half and had the territorial advantage despite treacherous conditions, India hit back strongly after the break and looked to score.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The home team's intent bore fruit as they slammed in two goals in three minutes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">While the first half saw passes dragging along the field and the ball not bouncing, the period of play after the break was totally different.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Long-balls was the way to go, but India managed to string together a few short passes and moves as well.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The moment the Mumbai Football Arena was waiting for arrived when Chhetri earned a contentious penalty when he fell inside the box while trying to chest down a delivery from wide right.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After a delay over protests by the Kenyan players, Chhetri shot on the left side of the goalkeeper, who got a hand to it but could not stop the ball.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The crowd went jubilant and there was more to follow as Jeje unleashed a scorching rebound into the top corner from the edge of the box.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Befitting the occasion, Chhetri gave India another goal as he scored following a link-up with substitute Balwant Singh. The goal meant a lot to the skipper as he went over to the fans to celebrate.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chhetri had issued to a rallying call to the fans, and they turned up in numbers to mark a special night for the captain and his team. The official total attendance was 8890 in the stadium that can accommodate around 10500 people.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Coach Stephen Constantine started with an unchanged XI, two days after the 5-0 demolition of Chinese Taipei.</p>
<p class="title">Captain Sunil Chhetri couldn't have written a better script in his 100th international game as he struck twice to power India into the final of the Intercontinental Cup with a convincing 3-0 win over Kenya here on Monday night.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chhetri earned a penalty and broke the deadlock in the 68th minute while Jeje Lalpekhlua doubled the home team's lead with a pile-driver strike in the 71st minute.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chhetri ended it in the best possible manner, scoring in the stoppage time (90+1) off a Balwant Singh assist as fans went berserk.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The outpouring of emotion over the last two days was followed by a heavy downpour which threatened to play spoilsport. Puddles of water had formed in the field of play and what followed was a scrappy first half.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As the rain stopped, the groundsmen worked hard to get the water off the field throughout the half-time interval. The talismanic Chhetri will remember the groundsmen's efforts, which probably saved the landmark game from turning into an anti-climax.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After the game, the Blue Tigers walked up to the fans and acknowledged their presence, with Chhetri taking his players for a lap of honour as his proud family savoured the moment from the stands.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"If this is the kind of turnout that is going to come to watch us, we can give our lives on the pitch," an emotional Chhetri said after the match.</p>.<p class="bodytext">While the Kenyans looked better in the first half and had the territorial advantage despite treacherous conditions, India hit back strongly after the break and looked to score.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The home team's intent bore fruit as they slammed in two goals in three minutes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">While the first half saw passes dragging along the field and the ball not bouncing, the period of play after the break was totally different.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Long-balls was the way to go, but India managed to string together a few short passes and moves as well.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The moment the Mumbai Football Arena was waiting for arrived when Chhetri earned a contentious penalty when he fell inside the box while trying to chest down a delivery from wide right.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After a delay over protests by the Kenyan players, Chhetri shot on the left side of the goalkeeper, who got a hand to it but could not stop the ball.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The crowd went jubilant and there was more to follow as Jeje unleashed a scorching rebound into the top corner from the edge of the box.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Befitting the occasion, Chhetri gave India another goal as he scored following a link-up with substitute Balwant Singh. The goal meant a lot to the skipper as he went over to the fans to celebrate.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chhetri had issued to a rallying call to the fans, and they turned up in numbers to mark a special night for the captain and his team. The official total attendance was 8890 in the stadium that can accommodate around 10500 people.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Coach Stephen Constantine started with an unchanged XI, two days after the 5-0 demolition of Chinese Taipei.</p>