10:10 pm: That’s it from us tonight, thanks for joining us. India play again on Monday versus Kenya, do tune in for our coverage. It’s going to be a special night, with Chhetri all set to reach a 100 caps. Arka Bhattacharya will have the report and analysis for you soon.

Full-time thoughts from Arka Bhattacharya: Not tough for India as they do the Viking clap. Chhetri bagging a hat-trick and his 57th, 58th, 59th goals as Stephen Constantine’s men had the gentlest of games. Gurpreet could have booked an AirBnB near his goal.

10:00 pm: A memorable night for Indian Football against a Chinese Taipei side that barely got going. A hat-trick in India’s blue for Sunil Chhetri after 8 years, first goals for Udanta and Halder. A job well done.

FULL-TIME: It’s all over, India win 5-0.

Into 4 mins of extra time, India 5-0 Chinese Taipei

A couple of good saves from Gurpreet late on in this game as Chinese Taipei try to earn some consolation. Two mins left. A corner for the visitors, leads to another.

Meanwhile, Chhetri is subbed off late after a memorable night. He is taken off for Mumbai City forward Alen Deory as the crowd breaks into rapturous applause.

After 88 mins, India 5-0 Chinese Taipei

It’s Maa Tujjhe Salaam in stands, says Arka from the stadium. India look for their sixth. Remember, their heaviest win is a 6-0 win over Cambodia. They are still pushing for a goal here.

After 83 mins, India 5-0 Chinese Taipei

The game understandably petering out here. A few minutes back, Chhetri was put through on goal once again but he unselfishly cuts it back (both feet in the air), Borges however can only shoot wide. The men in white must be yearning for the final whistle.

A slew of changes from either side...

After 78 mins, India 5*-0 Chinese Taipei

GOAL! What a hit by Pronay Halder! And that has seen the crowd find their voice again. The midfielder has struggled with injury but that is the goal of the night after returning to the national fold after a long time.

STAT ALERT

After 73 mins, India 4-0 Chinese Taipei

Another fairly long break in play in Mumbai as the Taipei No 10 appears to be winded after a blow to his midriff with the ball.

A quick reality check from our correspondent: Indian fans would be advised against reading too much into the result. Taipei, not their strongest team, have been very poor at the back and have barely threatened the Indian goal. The midfield have given the forward line zilch to feed off on, and as a result, the entire team has been under the cosh throughout the match.

After 68 mins, India 4-0 Chinese Taipei

Changes for India... Thapa (fantastic game) replaced by Rowlin Borges, Salam Ranajn Singh takes over from Anas in defence.

From Arka Bhattacharya, about the crowd tonight: Blue Pilgrims out in full voice tonight, even if there’s only 300 of them. The captain and Constantine have already praised this initiative, and it’s pleasant to see that the national team has some travelling fans for a change

After 66 mins, India 4-0 Chinese Taipei

Ashique comes on and almost scores straight away, but a weak effort in the end.

Chhetri could have had six tonight but the beauty of it is he has probably converted 3 of the toughest chances that’s come his way tonight. What a player!

After 62 mins, India 4-0 Chinese Taipei - Hat-trick complete!

GOALLLLLLL! What more does one say about Sunil Chhetri? He’s not in the mood for scoring tap-ins. Finishes off a lovely one-touch move with a ferocious strike into the roof of the net.

Arka Bhattacharya: This is threatening to turn into a riot. Chhetri gets his hat-trick, easy as you like for the Indian captain, as Taipei are over-run once again.

After 58 mins, India 3-0 Chinese Taipei

HOW HAS CHHETRI NOT SCORED A HAT-TRICK YET!?

After 57 mins, India 3-0 Chinese Taipei

A break in play here as the visitors have an injury to attend to.

After 53 mins, India 3-0 Chinese Taipei

Udanta tries to turn provider this time with a fierce low cross that the visitors somehow clear. Jeje then sets up Udanta who is put under pressure by the defence when through on goal.

More from Arka Bhattacharya on the goal: Udanta cuts in, slicing through the Taipei defence and shoots. Well taken shot from his left foot as India make a scoring start to the second half. First ever goal in national colours!

After 48 mins, India 3-0 Chinese Taipei - UDANTA SCORES!

India running away with this now. They turn defense into attack and have a third goal to show for it. Udanta Singh with some fine dribbling inside the D box, turns the defender inside out, curls it into the far post with his left. Fine individual goal. India 3-0 up.

Second half underway: India 2-0 Chinese Taipei

And we are underway in Mumbai again. An early double-corner for the visitors... can they force a comeback in this one?

08:55 pm: Some half-time reading for you... what a beautiful story of passion for the beautiful game!

HALF TIME: India 2-0 Chinese Taipei

Half-time and its 2-0 to India. Chinese Taipei have been shambolic at the back and India could not have asked for a more easier start to the tournament. Chhetri scoring both, Jeje the provider on both occasions. The Mizo striker been as impressive as the captain. Gurpreet has been a spectator so far, reports Arka Bhattacharya.

Join us soon for the second half and more updates from our correspondent.

After 45 mins, India 2-0 Chinese Taipei

Into the first half extra time, and the visitors threaten to create a chance from a deep setpiece by the Indian defence alert to it. Narzary puts in a lung-busting run after clearing that chance and almost gets in on the end of yet another Jeje through ball, nothing comes of it.

After 40 mins, India 2-0 Chinese Taipei

Almost a hat-trick for the captain! Put through on goal by Jeje once again, he overpowers the last defender and tries a cheeky chip, but the GK is alert and makes a save. Wry smiles all around.

India have had 5 shots on target so far, compared to their opponents solitary effort.

After 38 mins, India 2-0 Chinese Taipei

More on the goal from Arka Bhattacharya: It’s the Jeje-Chhetri 1-2 punch which strikes again. This time though, the Chinese Taipei keeper lets it in his near post, an error from the visiting custodian. Anirudh Thapa has been a pleasant surprise in the opening half, controlling things nicely in midfield.

After 35 mins, India 2-0 up

GOALLL, INDIA! The name of the scoresheet, like often, is Chhetri but that was a brilliant team effort. Quickfire one-touch passing at the edge of the box between Thapa-Jeje-Chhetri. Clever finish from a tight angle. Great stuff.

After 30 mins, India 1-0 Chinese Taipei

A lull in the game, from an Indian perspective. That injury break has put the brakes on the proceedings a bit. Chinese Taipei get into the box to create a real chance for the first time but the final shot is weak and off target.

After 26 mins, India 1-0 Chinese Taipei

It’s a stoppage for drinks as Subhashish Bose on his debut is injured and has to take a break. There’s been very little going forward from the visitors. India sitting pretty.

After 20 mins, Chhetri with another big chance but this time it’s saved.

The Chinese Taipei keeper comes up trumps this time as Jeje and Chhetri combine once more but the captain’s shot is saved by the tip of the goalie’s boot. Still 1-0 to India.

After 14 mins, India 1-0 Chinese Taipei - CHHETRI SCORES!

GOALLL, INDIA! And who else but Sunil Chhetri. A lovely through ball by Jeje, Chhetri with an expert first touch in the box and slots it past the keeper. It was coming. Great link-up play.

After 13 mins, India 0-0 Chinese Taipei

Big chance for Chhetri again, this time he fashions it himself. A lovely free kick and it’s just wide off the post. India getting closer.

After 8 mins, India 0-0 Chinese Taipei

Udanta was the one setup that chance for Chhetri earlier, but the Indian captain really should have at least hit the target. Poor miss by his standards. A bit scrappy since that early chance for India.

After 3 mins, India 0-0 Chinese Taipei

Chance for Chhetri early on, finds himself free in the box but cannot sweep the ball into the back of the net.

07:58 pm: It’s almost time for kickoff.

07:55 pm: Our correspondent Arka Bhattacharya is in the stadium in Mumbai and will be providing the updates for the blog.

07:50 pm: A little bit about India’s opponents tonight...

Coached by former Guam coach Gary White, Chinese Taipei are ranked 121st in the world but have witnessed a resurgence in the last three years. They hit their lowest ranking of 191 in June but have since then won 12 of their 21 matches to climb to 70 places.

White, who had masterminded a 2-1 victory over India previously as Guam coach, said, “India are a strong team and they’re going up step by step. Sunil (Chettri) is nearing to achieve a milestone. I hope he reaches it in the next two games but not against us (laughs). This tournament is going to add massive experience to our boys, more than any of the training sessions.”

In the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, India lost to White’s Guam once and beat them 1-0 in Bengaluru in the return leg.

White, however, was of the opinion that this Indian team was a vastly different team to the one he faced two years ago, with a lot of new faces.

07:45 pm: Hello and welcome to The Field’s live blog of the first match of the Interncontinental Cup, where the Indian football team take on Chinese Taipei in what promises to be a stern test of the Blue Tigers’ preparations for the 2019 Asian Cup.