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

Rabia Said Al Alawi Al Mandhar scored twice as Oman came from behind to beat Indian football team 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup qualifier match in Guwahati. Sunil Chhetri scored for India in the first half. Get highlights and analysis of the India vs Oman FIFA World Cup qualifier match below.
Indian football team´s Sunil Chhetri and Oman´s Mohammed al Musallami vie for the ball in their FIFA World Cup qualifying match

Indian football team´s Sunil Chhetri and Oman´s Mohammed al Musallami vie for the ball. Get highlights and analysis of the India vs Oman FIFA World Cup qualifier match below.

Rabia Said al Alawi al Mandhar´s two strikes late in the match proved to be the difference as Indian football team lost 1-2 to Oman in their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign opener against Oman. Earlier, Sunil Chhetri scored his 72nd international goal to give India a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute. India, pressing high and catching the Oman with quick breaks down the flanks, maintained the lead going into the break in Guwahati. But the hosts soon ran out of steam and things fall apart after the 80th minute. (Get highlights and analysis of the India vs Oman FIFA World Cup qualifier match below.)

The result more or less highlights the fact that very little has changed with Indian football. Today, Igor Stimac’s side did all they could to play the tight tactical lanes and the close marking game needed to stifle the Oman players for space. For 80 minutes, it worked. But, cliche alert, it is a game of 90 minutes. 

There are a ton of positives, of course. It was a far more composed performance in midfield and defence from India. Stimac and his team seem to have coached the instinct to make the final tackle out of his central defenders. No penalty was conceded. But, the lack of game time, the fact that this is an off-season game for India, and the lack of this sort of competition every week is the difference. As it has been for ever and ever.

We will be back with a full-length review video of the game tomorrow and then for the next qualifier at Qatar on September 10. 

Welcome to our live blog:

Live blog

India Cramping Oman

52’ What India are doing very well is that they are dragging Oman wide, by cramping them for space in the centre.

Poor Refereeing

53’ Some terrible refereeing there as Chhetri, who had done brilliantly winning the ball is penalised for handball. There were a few inches between his hand and thigh there.

Thapa´s Self Goal, Almost

53’ Close call! Oman whip in a cross from the right that comes to Anirudh Thapa just outside the six yard box. He slices the clearance and gives Gurpreet a challenging save to make in the India goal. But Gurpreet is alert and the resultant corner isn’t a particularly good one.

Gurpreet Saves Again

55’ Another save by Gurpreet. Again a long cross sees an Iman striker free in the centre. Again the header is a bit soft, and again Gurpreet grabs it with both hands.

Al Alaawi Offside

56’ Brandon wins a foul in the centre of the pitch. The Indians are getting a little tired and Oman catch them out on the counter. Thankfully though, Al Alawi runs offside (he doesn´t really) and India escape. If that pass hadn’t been flagged off Al Alaawi was through on goal.

Al Mukhaini Wastes

58’ Al Mukhaini is released down the right and has enough time and space to find a good cross. He doesn’t. He fires it low and straight at Gurpreet, who gathers.

Chhangte in for Fernandes

60’ Yellow card for Borges. Late tackle. And a substitution. Brandon Fernades goes off and Lallianzuala Chhangte comes on.

Indian Passing Slackens

61’ India are pressing hard, but when they do win the ball, their passing is letting them down.

Al Mukhaini vs Dalima Chhibber

63’ Oman’s Al Mukhaini has a pot shot from 40 yards out. It is a similar position to what Dalima Chhibber scored from a few months ago. The difference being, hers was a goal.

Old Borges Resurfaces

64’ Old Rowllin has resurfaced. He gathers the ball in a great position, with action to his left and right. He shoots, about a mile high. And promptly apologises to everyone.

Oman´s Corner Woes

66’ Oman have taken some of the worst corners in professional football today. They’ve had six, and each of them have been floated into nowhere.

Al Alawi Offside

67’ Another good save by Gurpreet, but the attempt was flagged offside anyway. Al Alawi again, drifts half a yard offside.

Harsh on Jhingan

67’ Very harsh yellow card for Sandesh Jhingan. Looked as though he was just clearing the ball from a potentially dangerous position because the whistle for offside came late. But the ref didn’t think so, saw it as time wasting after the whistle had gone.

Adil on the Money

69’ India are panicking in defence. Adil makes a hash of a clearance, then makes a mess of it again. Before shouldering the attacker away and finally get rid of the ball. All of this in the box mind.

Bihu Duck Tales

While things slow down a little the blog squad are sharing duck tales. Vaibhav has one of a 90-year-old lady from Abhayapuri who came to the local Bihu fair, drank a little rice beer, ate a great meal of duck, watched the football finals and, peacefully, died in her sleep that night. What a way to go. 

Gurpreet-Bheke Teamwork

74’ Another big save from Gurpreet. Oman’s striker drifts in from the right, into the box and fires with his left foot. Gurpreet gets low and parries Bheke does the rest. That was some tired defending from Thapa, who was was too slow on the turn.

Manvir in for Ashique

78’ Ashique comes off. And he gets a huge hug from his manager. He may not have scored, or provided an assist, but he has been tremendous tonight. He is replaced by Manvir Singh.

Oman Pass it Around

80’ Ten minutes to go. Start counting your chickens guys. Oman are passing it around, but not doing much with it.

Oman Equalise, 1-1

82’ Ugh. Oman score. Al Alawi gets his reward for running so hard. And he gets it out of nothing. A speculative ball is played out from the back, and Al Alawi shakes loose and runs away from Bheke, who is wrong sided with no hope to do anything to defend this. Gurpreet is slow off his line and Al Alawi slots it in. Oman are level and India are tired.

Chhangte Misses Golden Chance

83’ India created a super chance to get right back in the lead. Chhetri, inevitably, on the end of a nice little ball through the middle, shows great awareness to pull it back for Manvir who was unmarked in the box. Manvir then did the right thing in playing it across goal, perfectly placed for Chhangte on the left to tap it in. But Chhangte was a yard or so out of position and the ball ball goes out for a goal kick.

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