India have recorded their first win at the Asian Cup finals since 1964 after two goals from captain Sunil Chhetri helped them defeat Thailand 4-1, overtaking Lionel Messi to become the second highest-scoring active international player.
The 34-year-old gave India, managed by Englishman Stephen Constantine, the lead from the penalty spot in the first half but Teerasil Dangda equalised before half-time. Another goal from Chhetri restored their lead before further strikes from Anirudh Thapa and Jeje rounded off the win in Abu Dhabi.
Chhetri moved onto 66 goals, one more than Messi. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (85) is ahead of him.
The result means India go top of Group A, above host nation United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, who drew 1-1 on Saturday. But defeat for Thailand cost their coach his job, with the Thai FA moving swiftly to remove Serbian Milovan Rajevac.
“The result is not what is expected of the Thai national team and that our supporters deserve,” Thai FA president Somyot Poompanmoung said in a statement. “As the president of the Football Association, I cannot stand still with this problem.”
Rajevac, who took Ghana to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, will be replaced by his assistant, Sirisak Yodyardthai, for Thailand’s next outing against Bahrain on Thursday.
