Top 5 Indian national football team matches under Stephen Constantine

#1 India vs Puerto Rico (Mumbai Football Arena)

Team India celebrating a goal against Puerto Rico

Date: 3 September 2016

Venue: Mumbai Football Arena

Result: India 4-1 Puerto Rico

India scripted a sensational 4-1 victory over then 114th ranked Puerto Rico at the Mumbai Football Arena (Andheri Sports Complex) in Mumbai. The match is considered to be the best ever match in Stephen Constantine's second stint as Indian head coach. It was a well planned friendly by AIFF to tackle FIFA ranking and get a favourable draw for AFC Asian Cup 2019 qualifier. Fortunately, they succeeded in the mission and got a hike in FIFA ranking and placed in a relatively easy group as well.

It was an outstanding performance from team India as being a goal down to register a 4-1 victory over the higher ranked team.The visitors awarded a penalty in the very 7th minute into the match and Emmanual Sanchez stepped up and done no mistake in giving the Puerto Rican early lead in the match. But the Indian camp alerted very well to the goal and it was all Indian dominance thereafter.

The visitors seemed so tired and they could not match up with team India after the first goal. Narayan Das equalised for team India in the 18th minute while Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua made a 3-1 lead before the break. Super sub Jackichand completed the rout for team India in the 58th minute.

The match resulted in drastic improvement of FIFA ranking for India since then. Ultimately India moved up to 96 in the FIFA ranking. It was the best in 21 years for team India. Whereas India's best ever ranking 94 (1996) remained untouched. Presently, India is placed at the 105th position in the world and 14th among Asian countries.