Seiminlen Doungel heads home the equaliser for Indian football team in their match against Afghanistan. Get highlights and analysis of the Afghanistan vs India FIFA World Cup qualifier match below.
Seiminlen Doungel scored in stoppage time, off a corner from Brandon Fernandes, to earn Indian football team a draw against Afghanistan in their FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Afghanistan in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on November 15. India were unimaginative and erratic in the first half, and paid the price for it right at the stroke of half time. Afghanistan, after troubling the Indian defence thought the right flank scored via the same route. Zelfagar Nazary found the target for Afghanistan off a cross from David Najem. India did make amends in the second half even as Afghanistan defended doggedly.
There was nothing right in the first half but somehow Stimac’s substitutions, especially Farukh Choudhary and Doungel gave India the impetus to attack more in the second period. Farukh’s introduction opened the left channel for India to exploit and in that 10 minute period Doungel was on, he created enough doubt and movement to give the Afghans a headache. Not to mention he scored the equaliser. (Get highlights and analysis of the Afghanistan vs India FIFA World Cup qualifier match below).
55’ Udanta takes the reins in attack and drives forward with the ball. He plays a superball to Farukh who lays it to Ashique on the left -- who is too far forward right now. Ashique loses control and the Afghan defender gathers it, Ashique fouls him and that’s the attack gone.
57’ Afghanistan almost release Najem through, but Ashique is forced to come back and clean up that big hole in defence Adil and Bheke left open.
58’ A lot has happened. Wait. We shall tell you.
First, Ashique and Farukh play the way a full back and winger should. They interchange passes before Ashique releases Farukh into space for a cross. He puts an inch perfect cross, and Chhetri rushes towards it but he is just half a second too late. From the other side Udanta gathers the ball and drops a deep cross in. This time Chhetri wins the header but Ovays Azizi palms it out. Phew. Breathe. India’s best period of the game. And the closest they have come to scoring.
61’ Maybe that tactical substitution on the left isn’t such a bad idea after all.
62’ India are attacking a bit more aggressively now and from the left side mostly. They have figured that loading the pace up on one side has its benefits. Chhetri picks up a pass from Ashique and tries to release Farukh with a cute backheel. Doesn’t manage.
64’ Brandon gets a cross in after some deft play by Sahal and Ashique on the left. The cross is deep. The cross is good. But the cross is cleared away. Afghanistan launch a counter, but Bheke wins it back in their own half. India are pressing high. There may yet be more goals here.
67’ Better from India. Good cross from the left off the boot of Farrukh and Udanta is there to meet it with a perfectly timed and placed header. Great save. And off the resulting corner India come even closer. Brandon’s corner made it all the way to the far post where Sunit Chhetri had the entire goal wide open in front of him. Somehow India’s record goal-getter managed to put it over. What a chance that was.
70’ India have been much much much better this last 20 odd minutes. And should’ve been level. But…..
71’ Afghanistan do a superb corner routine and then drop a deep cross into nothing. The fans have been conducted into an orchestra where they put on their phones and wave it around. It looks quite nice without the pollution.
74’ Chhetri has had a bad game. Not just by his standards, but by any standards. He misses a pass trying to be cheeky when perhaps a simple turn, give and go would have sufficed.
75’ We are inching towards the end game here boys. And it isn’t looking good. Udanta wins a freekick on the right. Brandon to take it….
76’ He swings it in, but it is cleared by the first defender in the box. Pronay then brings down Najem who could have sparked a counter.
77’ Noor Husin takes a curling shot from the left of the India box. Gurpreet saves and from the rebound David Najem tries his luck. He shoots wide.
78’ India make their final sub. Pritam Kotal is off for Len Doungel. Not long after, Brandon has a shot from distance. It goes wide.
81’ Doungel catches a stray ball on the right side of the Afghan box. He should’ve driven a deep cross in but instead chooses to try and find Chhetri at the top of it. Afghanistan clear.
83’ Afghanistan have their gameplan locked down. Defend with your hearts. Maybe hit on the counter.
84' Doungel catches a pass on the right, drives and finds space in the box, tries to cut in and the ball is cleared for a corner. Brandon delivers to the near post and it is cleared easily.
85’ Chhetri is fed by Farukh at the base of the box on the left. He lofts a cross in to Manvir, who heads wide.
86’ After a long period of India possession -- which the Afghans are booing with their lungs out -- Manvir lays up a delightful invitation for Brandon who blasts it wide. India have all the possession and Afghanistan are basically just clearing it away. But India can’t find that break through.
89’ Pronay is driving higher up the pitch and helping Brandon set up some more play in the box. But the end product is lacking. Brandon has another pop from distance but it deflects into the goalkeepers hands.
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