Bengaluru FC’s AFC success was just the tip of the iceberg
#3 Indian national team beats Puerto Rico, who were 38 ranks above them
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India’s 4-1 win over Puerto Rico was one to savour
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One of the best achievements in years for India's senior national team came in September when they defeated Puerto Rico; a team placed 38 places above them in the FIFA world ranking. It was considered to be a very tough game for India, and a victory would mean great news for Indian football. In the end, the team not only defeated the CONCACAF rivals but also thrashed them with a 4-1 win.
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The match was Mumbai's first international football match in over sixty years, which added to the importance of the game. For the same reason, a lot of passionate Indian football fans turned for the match and were rewarded with an entertainer. It was the away team who took the lead in just 8 minutes into the game, but goals from Narayan Das, Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpekhlua and Jackichand Singh sealed a comeback for the Blues.
With that spectacular display, India had registered their ninth win in eleven games. It was one of the most memorable games for the Indian football fans in recent times. Currently, India is placed 137th on the rankings table, which is their best in six years, and Puerto Rico sits 151st. The fact that India, who were 38 ranks below the El Huracán Azul in September, is now 14 places above them shows the progress the team has made in this year.
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About the author
Dakir Mohammed Thanveer
Dakir is a European and Indian football journalist at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 10 years. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication, and currently pursuing Master’s in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University, he is a seasoned football journalist who has interviewed the likes of former Liverpool star John Arne Riise, covered the entire 2022-23 Indian Super League season of the Kerala Blasters, and has delivered a seminar at an international conference held by St. Albert's College, Ernakulam.
Thanks to his extensive academic background in journalism, Dakir understands the importance of accuracy and spends a significant amount of time researching the subject. In today’s data-driven world of football, where players are perceived as machines, he prides himself amplify the voices of the people that make football the beautiful game that it is.
He started following football in 2013, and more specifically, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, and admires Jurgen Klopp for his untouched charisma and unmatched legacy. A perpetual underdog supporter, he is a fan of under-fire Reds forward Darwin Nunez and can’t wait for him to show the world what he truly is. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s iconic “corner taken quickly” corner assist for Divock Origi in Liverpool’s 4-0 UCL semifinal win over Barcelona left a lasting impact on him.
When not writing, Dakir enjoys indulging in his guilty pleasure - watching mass commercial movies.
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