India’s aspirations of qualifying for the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers were left in tatters following a crushing 1-2 home defeat to a determined Afghanistan side in a crucial second-round match. The loss, met with dismay by a disgruntled home crowd, throws both India’s qualification chances, Indian football management and coach Igor Stimac’s future into serious doubt.
Early Missed Opportunities Set the Tone
The match began with a glimmer of hope for India. Manvir Singh squandered a golden chance in the opening minutes, blazing the ball over the bar from close range. This early miss highlighted India’s ongoing struggle to find the back of the net, a problem that has plagued them for months.
Chhetri Scores Milestone Goal, But India’s Woes Continue
A historic moment arrived for skipper Sunil Chhetri in the first half. Playing in his 150th international appearance, Chhetri stepped up to convert a penalty after a handball by Afghan defender Haroon Amiri. This goal, however, did little to quell the growing anxiety amongst Indian fans as they witnessed their team’s continued struggle to control the game.
Stimac’s Tactics Under Fire After Afghan Fightback
Despite switching to a 4-3-3 formation and starting the match strongly, India failed to exert dominance. Stimac’s substitutions in the second half raised eyebrows, particularly the removal of Chhetri shortly before Afghanistan’s equalizer. In the 70th minute, a long ball from Afghanistan unlocked the Indian defense, and Rahmat Akbari capitalized with a well-placed shot that trickled past Indian custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
Goalkeeping Error Hands Afghanistan the Advantage
India’s fate was sealed in the 87th minute with a moment of poor judgment from Gurpreet. The goalkeeper inexplicably rushed off his line and collided with Afghan forward Siar Saadat, conceding a penalty. Sharif Mukhammad coolly converted from the spot, sending the Afghan bench into jubilation and plunging the Indian crowd into despair.
Fans Demand Change as India’s Qualification Hopes Fade
The 8,000-strong home crowd at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium voiced their frustration throughout the match, and their anger reached a crescendo after the final whistle. Chants of “Stimac Out!” echoed through the stadium, reflecting the growing discontent towards the coach and the team’s direction. With this loss, India’s qualification chances hang by a thread. They face an uphill battle to reach the third round, and coach Stimac’s position appears increasingly precarious.
This defeat serves as a wake-up call for Indian football. The team’s deficiencies in attack, tactical shortcomings, and individual errors were ruthlessly exposed by Afghanistan. With their World Cup dream on the brink of collapse, India must regroup, address their weaknesses, and find a way to turn things around if they are to salvage their qualification hopes.
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[…] an expanded tournament with more opportunities for Asian teams, remains alive for India. However, a recent 1-2 defeat to Afghanistan has made their qualification path […]