India Secure First Win In 489 Days! Sunil Chhetri Scores Upon Comeback, Rahul Bheke & Liston Colaco Aid Team With 3-0 Lead

The India Football Team have secured their first win under Manolo Marquez after securing a 3-0 finish against Maldives. Rahul Bheke, Liston Colaco and the returning maverick Sunil Chhetri netted goals to keep India ahead of the opposition.

Team India Secure Grand Win, Defeat Maldives With 3-0 Lead

Team India began their 2025 campaign with a convincing victory over the Maldives. After going winless in 2024, the Blue Tigers saw Sunil Chhetri return from retirement to bolster the club. The Indian team appeared dominant from the start, with great ball possession.

In the 35th minute, Rahul Bheke scored a header to give Team India the lead. Liston Colaco scored another goal, this time a header, in the 66th minute to make it 2-0 for India in the competition. Sunil Chhetri, 40, scored the team's third goal with a magnificent header against Maldives. This is Chhetri's 95th goal in international football and is on track to score 100 goals for his country, a feat which has been only achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo , Lionel Messi and Ali Daei.

Also Read: Like He Never Left! Sunil Chhetri’s Brilliant Header Secures Goal Number Three For India Against Maldives

India Midfielder Brandon Fernandes Suffers Injury Scare 

While Team India pulled off a spectacular win, concerns have increased in the Indian football camp following an injury scare for attacking midfielder Brandon Fernandes. He sustained a knee injury in the 37th minute of play at Shillong's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Wednesday. Brandon needed to be stretchered off the pitch because he was unable to walk back to the sideline. 

Farukh Choudhary replaced the offensive midfielder, while Brandon Fernandes was spotted on the bench with a cold pack on his knee. It might be a devastating injury blow for Team India, who have a crucial battle coming up. Indian Football Coach Manolo Marquez is yet to determine the degree of Brandon's injury.

Team India will now be shifting their attention to the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against Bangladesh on March 25, 2025, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

Also Read: Sunil Chhetri Takes the Helm Upon Comeback As Coach Manolo Marquez Names India's Starting XI vs Maldives