Football: India captain Sunil Chhetri sets record

Tamuning (Guam), June 16: Prolific striker Sunil Chhetri today became the first Indian footballer to score 50 international goals during his team's 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Guam here today.

Chhetri's feat, though, came in a losing cause, as India suffered their second successive defeat in the preliminary joint qualification second round.

"Number of goals never matter for me. I never keep track of feats. I just play for my nation," Chhetri said after the match ended in a 1-2 defeat for the visitors.

Former captain Bhaichung Bhutia stays at the second spot with 42 goals in 107 matches while IM Vijayan has 40 goals from 79 games. This meanwhile, was Chhetri's 87th match.

After Guam took a 2-goal lead by scoring in each half, Chhetri reduced the margin for the visitors in added time, heading in a cross from the right.

For the record, it was Chhetri who scored India's all the goals in the team's four joint preliminary round 2018 World Cup qualifying games so far.

PTI