India, Afghanistan play out goalless draw in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

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NEW DELHI: India and Afghanistan performed out a goalless draw as each groups struggled to transform their alternatives into objectives in a gripping Group A fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The match, held on the Damac Stadium, witnessed an end-to-end contest marked by tense midfield battles and sporadic attacking strikes.
Regardless of India’s offensive intent from the outset, with ahead Manvir Singh coming near scoring on a number of events, neither aspect managed to interrupt the impasse within the first half. The feisty encounter noticed lunging tackles and strategic play, with Afghanistan counting on their tempo and physicality whereas India centered on a passing recreation.
India’s Vikram Partap Singh, making his beginning XI debut, posed a relentless menace to the Afghanistan protection, showcasing his versatility by drifting between the middle and wing positions. Nonetheless, the guests struggled to capitalize on their attacking alternatives, leaving coaches Igor Stimac and Ashley Westwood visibly annoyed on the sidelines.
Manvir Singh had a number of probabilities to place India forward, however his efforts have been thwarted by Afghanistan’s resilient protection. Regardless of controlling massive parts of the sport, India didn’t convert their dominance into objectives, with Afghanistan posing threats on the counter-attack.
Within the second half, Vikram Pratap Singh and Liston Colaco missed alternatives to interrupt the impasse, whereas Afghanistan additionally had their moments in entrance of purpose. Nonetheless, stable defensive interventions from gamers like Rahul Bheke and Subhasish Bose ensured that neither crew may discover the again of the online.
Because the match resulted in a stalemate, each groups now shift their focus to the following encounter, set to happen in Guwahati on March 26. With the stakes excessive within the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup, India and Afghanistan can be desperate to safe a decisive victory of their upcoming conflict.
(With inputs from PTI)



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