Shillong, March 19: History will remember Shillong as the place where the legend, the greatest, the maestro and the finest footballer India has ever produced—Sunil Chhetri came back from retirement to score his 95th international goal.

The match on Wednesday against the Maldives was the first-ever international football match hosted by the city.

As the game kicked off, the moment the first whistle blew, the crowd erupted in cheers. And every time the ball reached Chhetri’s feet, the roars grew louder and louder.

In the 35th minute of the first half, the Blue Tigers broke the deadlock with a sublime header from defender Rahul Bheke. India led 1-0 at halftime.

After the break, Liston Colaco doubled the lead with a powerful header off a corner kick in the 66th minute. His effort left the defense helpless as the ball found the back of the net.

But the loudest cheers were reserved for skipper Sunil Chhetri, who scored his 95th international goal in the 76th minute, guiding a Colaco cross from the left into the net with a swift header.

With this 3-0 win against Maldives, India ended their 15-month international victory drought and marked their first triumph under Spanish coach Manolo Márquez.

Up next, India will face Bangladesh in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers here in Shillong on March 25.

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