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India performed out a goalless draw towards Afghanistan after each side failed to show their alternatives into targets in a Group A fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers right here.
It was end-to-end contest within the first half on Thursday night time with India coming near scoring via Manvir Singh on two events and the hosts too had their share of probabilities.
With this consequence, India climbed to the second spot in Group A with 4 factors from three matches, adopted by Kuwait, who’re on three factors from as many video games.
The equation was fairly clear for each groups. A win would do both facet a world of fine.
India have provisionally taken the second spot in Group A, three factors forward of Kuwait, who misplaced to Qatar 0-3 earlier within the night time. Afghanistan, following a draw and to losses are fourth within the group.
A feisty midfield battle ensued within the opening exchanges as lunging tackles had been regularly on show on the Damac Stadium. Whereas Afghanistan seemed to make use of their tempo and bodily constructed to claim dominance, India had been intent on taking part in a passing sport.
Vikram Partap Singh, who had earned his senior nationwide group debut in January, made the beginning XI for the primary time, and was a relentless thorn within the flesh of the Afghanistan defence.
The ahead stored drifting between the centre and the wing, typically switching with Manvir, which triggered a lot confusion within the Afghanistan ranks.
With India and Afghanistan resorting to open soccer, the primary half (45+3) noticed a wave of attacking strikes however the strikers weren’t capable of come alive within the remaining third, leaving coaches Igor Stimac and Ashley Westwood a bit annoyed as they shouted directions from the touchline.
India had been on the offensive from the phrase go and triggered some anxious moments within the Afghanistan defence. Had Manvir not spurned an excellent probability within the seventeenth minute, the guests would have taken an early lead of their away leg of the second spherical of the 2026 World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup preliminary joint qualification match.
After a number of early exchanges, the Indian midfield slowly started to clamp their management. Lallianzuala Chhangte, prancing down the left, discovered an unmarked Manvir with a low cross. However the latter, who had drifted inside from the suitable flank, despatched his shot extensive.
Regardless of India’s management over the sport, Afghanistan stored discovering probabilities, particularly on the counter. Mosawer Ahadi was launched down the suitable flank, as he lower in and unleashed a left-footed roller that India custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu grabbed with each arms.
Manvir had a couple of alternative to attain within the first half itself. A nook from Chhangte, and a cross whipped in by fullback Nikhil Poojary had been nice probabilities for the India ahead to attain, however each went begging, as the primary half got here to an in depth.
After Manvir, it was Vikram Pratap’s flip within the second half to overlook a few probabilities.
Whereas on the primary event, the ball was only a yard too far, the 22-year-old managed to wriggle previous his marker on the second alternative, solely to run right into a cul-de-sac, the place the angle was too slim for him to take a crack on the purpose.
His final alternative got here simply minutes forward of the hour mark, when he managed to get into the six-yard field unmarked, and related a header onto a cross by Akash Mishra. However the effort went inches extensive.
Vikram’s night time, nonetheless, quickly got here to an finish. A mistimed sort out earned him a reserving, and head coach Stimac took the chance to switch him with Brandon Fernandes.
Afghanistan stored resorting to counter-attacks and had arguably their finest scoring alternative within the 62nd minute when Rahmat Akbari’s low cross discovered Omid Popalzay within the Indian field, however Rahul Bheke intervened simply in time to disclaim the Afghanistan midfielder.
Stimac made a remaining throw of the cube with 1 / 4 of an hour left on the clock, bringing on Liston Colaco, Mahesh Naorem, and Deepak Tangri. Colaco discovered a variety of pleasure down the suitable, regularly sending in crosses, however the Afghanistan defence managed to take care of them.
Subhasish Bose, who had earlier changed Mishra, was added to the checklist of Indian gamers who managed to get a free header contained in the Afghanistan field, as he nodded a Colaco nook inches extensive of the goal.
Because the match went into damage time, Colaco created one final alternative, sprinting down the suitable flank. His low cross missed captain Sunil Chhetri, however landed at Mahesh’s toes, because the latter tried to feint his marker to create taking pictures area however he was quickly dispossessed.
India and Afghanistan will now shift to Guwahati, the place they are going to face off once more on March 26, for his or her second encounter within the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup.
