World Cup Qualifiers: India draw a blank, again

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Towards a facet that group leaders Qatar scored 9 and Kuwait hammered 4, India drew a clean.
India’s goalless draw in opposition to under-strength Afghanistan on the Damac Stadium took them to second within the group. If it stays like this until the top, India will make it to the third spherical of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers for the primary time, however there are apparent issues as Igor Stimac’s facet has been unable to seek out the again of the web.
India have now failed to attain in 5 consecutive video games, their longest goal-scoring drought in additional than twenty years.
“We have been a lot nearer to profitable this sport with the probabilities we created, however clearly standard issues are following us,” Stimac informed reporters after the away draw in opposition to Afghanistan in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. “We tried all of the gamers which have been out there within the frontline however didn’t work tonight. Now we have to enhance. With our offensive plans, we difficult easy issues.”
Stimac handed younger Vikram Partap Singh his first worldwide begin with captain Sunil Chhetri enjoying behind him. The younger Mumbai Metropolis striker was rewarded for his targets within the Indian Tremendous League (ISL) however he nonetheless has loads of floor to cowl on the worldwide stage.
After a goalless first 45 minutes, Stimac threw in all his attacking gamers. He introduced in Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh and Brandon Fernandes, however no one even got here near drawing a top-notch save from the rival goalkeeper.
India’s solely shot heading in the right direction was a hopeful lengthy ranger from Apuia.
“We should be higher in passing, higher in creating probabilities and completely a lot better in attacking the field when the crosses are coming from the entrance,” mentioned Stimac.
That such an insipid efficiency got here in opposition to the weakest crew within the group needs to be regarding. Afghanistan had solely three gamers from the 18 who boycotted the nationwide crew, and one other 4 substitutes from the full-strength facet that put it throughout Mongolia within the playoffs.
Their 34-year-old captain, Zohib Islam Amiri, performs semi-professional soccer in Canada. In central defence, he had the corporate of Mahboob Hanifi, who has performed lower than ten video games for Afghanistan and is among the many three who characteristic within the home league at house.
Sharif Mukhammad continues to be with no membership after being launched by Churchill Bros in January.
India have been poor with passes, even worse with the crosses. That they had extra ball possession than a facet ranked 41 locations under them, however the ending left loads to be desired as Manvir Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahul Bheke and Vikram couldn’t maintain their makes an attempt heading in the right direction.
Their finest likelihood got here within the eightieth minute from a Brandon Fernandes corner-kick, however Subhashish Bose misdirected his header.
In all equity, the clearest likelihood of the sport was created by Afghanistan. It got here simply after the hour mark when Mosawer Ahadi despatched an ideal via ball for Rahmat Akbari contained in the field. Akbari tried to play it for the onrushing Omid Popalzay, who couldn’t join with an open objective forward of him.
India now have an opportunity to make amends, and win their first sport of the 12 months, once they host Afghanistan in Guwahati on March 26.



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