India third in Qualifier Group E after Afghanistan draw

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India and Afghanistan performed out a 1-1 draw of their final match of Group E of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 joint qualifiers on the Jasim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday. With this end result, India completed third within the standings with seven factors from eight matches.

India took the lead within the seventy fifth minute courtesy of Afghanistan goalkeeper Owais Azizi, however the Afghans pulled again by their teenage participant Hossein Zamani minutes later of their draw. A 3rd-place end in Group E means India have superior to the third spherical of straight qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023.

India head coach Igor Stimac made two modifications to the squad he had began for the Blue Tigers in opposition to Bangladesh within the earlier recreation, with Bipin Singh and Udanta Singh changing Rahul Bheke and Ashiq Kuruniyan.

The Blue Tigers have been properly out of the block from kick-off as Manveer Singh lifted up the appropriate flank, made his manner into the Afghanistan field and pulled the set off. However, his shot was dismissed by Afghan goalkeeper Owais Azizi at a nook. The ensuing nook was cleared by Brandon, nevertheless it fell on the sting of the sphere to Glenn Martins, whose shot was ultimately blocked.

Afghanistan additionally tried to create their probabilities within the opening exchanges as David Ahmed Nazem discovered some house on the appropriate aspect and hit some crosses, however India’s mentor Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was alert to the risk and got here out to gather.

Glenn Martins was working onerous in the midst of the park, so India quickly began creating the sport. Brandon Fernandes was in his regular type in the course of the first 45 minutes, spreading his passes repeatedly into attacking choices. A free-kick in the midst of the park was a chance across the twentieth minute when Brandon smacked Chhetri for a 4 contained in the field, however Masih Saighani was alert to the hazard and cleared the ball.

Five minutes later, Ashiq beat Amiri from the left and dashed into the field, earlier than Chhetri was focused. Saighani as soon as once more obtained the job performed and stopped the ball earlier than any injury was performed. Afghanistan additionally began to achieve some momentum and some minutes later secured one other free-kick on India’s third pitch. Popalazze tosses the ball in the direction of Amiri, however Jhingan was able to get in the best way and avert the risk.

On the stroke of the forty fifth minute, Suresh made an important interception in the midst of the park to catch the Afghan protection off-guard. The younger midfielder drove the ball to the sting of the Afghan discipline earlier than taking part in it previous Manvir. However, Afghan keeper Azizi got here out bravely to sabotage the chance because the referee quickly blew his whistle to finish the primary half.

After the change, Afghanistan tried to sew collectively a number of passes within the Indian half, however ended up giving their opponents an opportunity. A bit of canine work by Ashiq within the third opposition meant the winger discovered some actual property simply outdoors the Afghan penalty space, however Amiri quickly appeared and bundled him up with a yellow card to avert an instantaneous risk. gave. Sunil Chhetri stands over the free-kick as he swings it over the bar. It was the final motion of the day for the Blue Tigers captain, as Igor Stimac introduced in Liston Colaco instead of the 36-year-old.

India’s persistence lastly paid off within the seventy fifth minute, when Aashiq and Manveer labored some house on the left, as the previous had time and house to ship a measured cross in the direction of Liston contained in the field. Afghan keeper Azizi, accumulating the ball, trapped it and turned it into his personal web.

Afghanistan quickly went on the assault, in search of the equalizer, and located it by their teenage sensation Hossein Zamani, who got here within the second half. Receiving a cut-back from Noor Hossain, Zamani swings a proper foot into the Indian purpose, on the far put up.

There have been some remaining exchanges between the 2 sides in further time, however the clock quickly ran out, because the match resulted in a 1–1 draw.

India XI: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK); Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhasish Bose; Glan Martins, Brandon Fernandes (Lalengmawia Ralte 62′), Suresh Singh Wangjam; Manvir Singh, Sunil Chhetri (C) (Liston Colaco 69′), Ashique Kuruniyan (Bipin Singh 81′).

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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS

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