India’s quest for a put in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualifiers experienced a major jolt when they went down to Afghanistan 1-2 on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The winners trailed -1 at 50 percent time.
Skipper Sunil Chhetri, taking part in his 150th Intercontinental, kept his date with historical past by giving the Blue Tigers the guide off a penalty kick in the 38th minute in front of jam-packed stands at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. The joy, however, was turned into complete misery when Rahmat Akbari’s shot deflected off a defender to obtain its way past Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the 70th minute for the equaliser, and then Sharif Mukhammad dealt the deathly blow by converting a penalty in the 88th moment.
The reduction of a few details in this residence tie left India with just 4 factors from four matches in the four-group Spherical 2 group. Although Qatar lead the team with nine details from a few matches, Afghanistan, far too, have 4 details from as a lot of matches.
India have two far more matches in hand. Though defeating Asian champions Qatar in the away match would be a complicated activity, it might finally boil down to India’s hope match in opposition to Kuwait on June 6, 2024. But Afghanistan can certainly aspire to overtake India in the points desk.
India, who drew the away match versus Afghanistan goalless in Saudi Arabia, desperately desired total details from this come across to keep alive their hopes of a extended and arduous journey to the 3rd round. But like it was in Abha, Saudi Arabia, the Indians did anything to extend the rival defence time and again but fell shorter of converting them into goals. They did develop a couple prospects, like a 2nd-moment shot by Chhetri that strike the put up right before Manvir blew it about the bar, but faltered at very important moments in the second 50 % to leave the turf empty-handed.
India took the guide in the 38th minute. Haroon Amiri, the captain and towering determine in the Afghanistan defence, created the cardinal oversight of handling the ball within the box as he located the inviting cross from the ideal by Manvir Singh, included with a quickly-approaching Sunil Chhetri, tricky to negotiate with and the Saudi Arabian referee pointed to the place without the need of hesitation.
As the packed stands waited with bated breath, Chhetri stepped in to slam the ball into the suitable of the goalkeeper Ovays Azizi, with a small but assured shot. He appeared unaffected by the riotous celebrations in the stadium and the sheer delight exhibited by his teammates and he walked back again to his placement calmly.
It was Chhetri’s 94th global target and the initial just after a 7-match drought. He now holds the exceptional document of scoring at the very least one particular target in his first, 25th, 50th, 75th, 100th, and 125th matches. But in the end, this special achievement took the back again seat as India surrendered all the factors on the pitch.
India: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Subhasish Bose, Jeakson Singh (Vikram Partap Singh 85’), Nikhil Poojary, Manvir Singh, Brandon Fernandes (Anirudh Thapa 68’), Lalengmawia Ratle, Liston Colaco (Mahesh Singh Naorem 68’), Sunil Chhetri (Lallianzuala Chhangte 68’).