Highlights - India Go Down to Oman in FIFA World Cup Qualifying Campaign Opener

23’ Ashique’s pace is causing too much trouble for Al Gheilani, who brings him down. Referee gives him a yellow. If Ashique can keep annoying him like this, that is India’s outlet.

24’ INDIA SCORE!!!!! AND WHO ELSE BUT CHHETRI!!!! That’s his 72nd goal!! And what a brilliant play from a set piece. The entire Oman team are caught ball watching as Brandon plays a low, short free kick from the left. Chhetri runs on to it perfectly and slots it into the bottom right corner. That is just reward for the pressure.

25’ That was a set piece out of the training ground, but Oman have to be kicking themselves. That was terrible defending. Everyone in that box in a red shirt was ball watching. And Chhetri had about half an hour to gather his thoughts, make a run, have a sip of water and slot it in.

29’ India are pressing high up the pitch, but through their attacking players. They are happy to foul, because when you are pressing if you’re not winning the ball, it´s always a good option. Someone’s been watching Manchester City.

31’ Game’s slowed down. India are basically now holding up a sign that reads ‘We shall play on the counter, thanks very much’. And Oman are passing sideways.

34’ Guwahati is roaring and Bhekenbauer wins a foul!

35’ Collectively India re doing a superb job. All units are performing to optimal functionality. They are pressing Oman when in defence, and when they win the ball back there are some crisp passes in midfield. Oman are also panicking a bit it must be said.

37’ India in attack. Thapa tries to spot Udanta’s run. Unsuccessfully. Oman have the ball again. And win a foul on the right. Freekick to be delivered in.

38’ The freekick doesn’t clear the one man wall. Out for a throw. India hustle the ball back and then win a foul near the halfway line. Freekick on the right for them. But it´s played long and Oman clear.

39’ The word in our live blog room is that Rowllin Borges is channeling N’Golo Kante. He is winning the ball, spreading it out, looking composed. All of these at once. Hope we don’t jinx it.

42’ Oman have a freekick at the edge of India’s box on the right. They can deliver it into the box if they wish. Subhashish’s foul was unneeded but also because he didn´t have any support. To the freekick, from which…

43’ They deliver to the far post. Bhekenbauer clears. Danger averted.

43’ WHAT A SAVE!!!! Cross from the right finds Al Mahjairi, who is right between India’s two central defenders and has a clear header at goal from five yards. Gurpreet saves though. How? God knows how. He palms it away and Al Mahjairi has a second go, but from a very acute angle, and drags it wide.

45’ India need halftime.

Super first half from Igor Stimac’s India. The side have looked really well drilled with every man on the pitch playing his part -- from Gurpreet at one end to Sunil Chhetri at the other. The best bit has been the way India have moved the ball and managed to establish control over midfield while neither looking overstretched, nor pressing too high up the pitch. Chhetri’s goal, as Vaibhav wrote earlier, was right of the training book. Quick, aware and precise. Brandon and Thapa have been solid but its Borges who has been a revelation in the first half. We had, honest admission, written him off after the Asian Cup earlier in the year but he looks a completely different player today.

I got the blues... Click below for the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-KluFB9A8M

46’ We are ready for the second half. One change for Oman. India stick with the starting XI that played such a good first half. Don’t think we will see any changes from Stimac till at least the 65th minute, unless the situation changes or one of his players tire out sooner.

47’ Oman look quicker. They have come out blood pumping, a low cross from the left is cleared by Adil for a corner. Oman play it short and another flurry of crosses are delivered and clear. They have a second corner.

48’ It´s a terrible corner, played out far beyond the second post.

50’ Thapa releases Ashique down the left, who hares after the ball, takes it to the corner and then drags it out. No one came out in support there. Which means, India want to close it out like this.