India were lucky! A goalkeeping howler from Afghanistan goalkeeper, Ovays Azizi, gifted the Blue Tigers lead in the 75th minute. But India failed to capitalise on it. A poor defensive play towards the end of a cagey match allowed the Afghans to share the spoils with teen sensation Hossein Zamani curling a beauty in the nine minutes left in the regulation time. That was probably the defining moment of the game, which lacked quality and creativity. India, after their comfortable win against Bangladesh, started sprightly. They won a series of corners, only to witness Afghan defence rising to the occasion, on many occasions. In between, the Afghan Lions won second balls, thus stifling Indian moves. They even dominated the proceeding in the second half as India struggle to match the tempo. India ended their joint 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifying campaign with seven points from eight matches (one win, four draws and three defeats). A third-place finish in Group E allows Igor Stimac's side to have a crack at the Asian Cup qualifying third round, to be held from 16 November 2021 to 14 June 2022.
9:30 PM IST: Result! India escaped with a hard-earned draw.
Second-half: India 1-1 Afghanistan
90+4' - Hossein Zamani booked for a tackle on Liston Colaco. And that's all. India qualify for the third round of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.
90+2' - Afghans enjoying another spell. Suresh Wangjam's late tackle and a free kick for Afghanistan. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu collects one and releases a long one.
89' - Manvir Singh once again beats to the ball. Rahul Bheke's throw in. Four minutes added on.
86' - Glan Martins tangles with an Afghan player. He's down. Free kick. Moments ago, Apuia takes a shot from distance. But poor one.
84' - SUB! Zubayr Amiri on for Amir Sharifi.
81' - GOAL !! Then, the Afghan teen sensation curls one. Noor Husin, just arrived, links up with Zohib Amiri and beats Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to the far corner.
80' - SUB for India. Ashique Kuruniyan is stretchered off. He is replaced by Bipin Thounaojam.
78' - Rahul Bheke tries to tackle Milad Intezar, and ends up on the floor. Free kick for India. Referee generous. Then, Ashique Kuruniyan produces a blistering run on the left flank. But the move ends with a goal kick for Afghanistan.
75' - SUB for Afghanistan. Adam Najem out, Hossein Zamaniin. Then, what a moment. GOAL!!!! A howler from Ovays Aziz. A harmless cross from Ashique Kuruniyan and it's a goal. No one knows, how.
72' - Glan Martins's frustration is growing. Another reckless tackle on Omid Popalzay. India youngster is lucky not to get a booking. Then, Manvir Singh slaps another Afghan player. Very lucky, again. That's RED CARD.
71' - Liston Colaco soon into the thick of the action. Sends in a teasing cross, but the Afghan goalie reaches to it first. Manvir Singh rues.
69' - And that's all for the skipper. Liston Colaco on for India. Sunil Chhetri not happy.
68' - Johib Amiri booked for a late tackle, and a free kick for India. Sunil Chhetri measures and a just over the bar. He's not happy.
66' - The match getting physical. Omid Popalzay almost breaks the deadlock with a long ranger. Just misses the far top corner.
63' - SUB! Lalengmawia on for Brandon Fernandes. Ashique Kuruniyan's errant elbow digs on David Najem. Free kick for Afghanistan.
60' - Cooling break at the hour mark. Afghanistan are in the ascendency. Meanwhile, Sandesh Jhingan needed medical attention.
59' - India manage to launch another attack. A looping delivery inside the box, but the final header too tame to test Afghani goalie.
57' - A fine strike from Masih Saighani, but straight to Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
53' - Another corner for India. The Blue Tigers, after enduring a bad spell, launched a counter attack and Afghans allowed India to have a go at the goal.
46' - India win the ball back soon after the restart.
8:33 PM IST: Players are back for the second half.
8:25 PM IST: It was a half of two halves in Doha. India started sprightly, winning a series of corners. Then Afghanistan turned up, bossing the midfield towards the end of the first half. Chinglensana Konsham and Ashique Kuruniyan were brilliant for India even as Suresh Wangjam and Manvir Singh produced some timely runs. For the Afghans, Omid Popalzay and Amir Sharifi looked in a different class. Captain Farshad Noor didn't last long. He took a knock from Glan Martins and was rendered unfit.
First-half: India 0-0 Afghanistan
45+1' - Manvir Singh then wins a free kick inside the Afghanistan half, but the referee blows his whistle. It's nil-nil at halftime.
45' - Now, Afghanistan's turn to run the show. Igor Stimac is not happy. But, a lapse in concentration from David Najem allow India to attack, with Sunil Chhetri winning the ball back and Manvir Singh having a go. Crowded. One minute added on.
43' - Beautiful from Amir Sharifi. Weaving through. No response from Indian defenders. Glan Martins tries to body block, but nothing from his desperate attempt. And Afghanistan continue to test India defence.
40' - India get another move going. Ashique Kuruniyan runs in with Noor Husin, and he is not happy with the referee's call. Free kick for Afghanistan.
38' - Faysal Shayesteh, now with the captain's arm band, goes for the ball. Hits the wall. Now, Rahul Bheke's turn to concede a free kick. Clumsy. Omid Popalzaysends in a brilliant delivery, and goes for a corner. Sandesh Jhingan, in the melee, takes an elbow. Down, but not out. Sana's turn to cope with a blow. India clear the danger away.
35' - Free-kick for Afghanistan. Chinglensana Konsham blocks onrushing Omid Popalzay, just outside the box. Popalzay struggles to get up. Yellow for Sana.
33' - Sharif Mukhammad, once again in action inside the box. He's asking for a penalty. Gone down easily.
32' - India win another corner. Brandon Fernandes' delivery fails to find a teammate and Afghanistan on a counter. Brilliant body block from Ashique Kuruniyan, but Sharif Mukhammad is asking for a corner.
29' - Rahul Bheke, who got a red in the match against Qatar, looks in control tonight. Limited play.. but tidy work. Farshad Noor is down again, holding his left knee. SUB. Abdul Najem is on.
25' - What a run on the left flank. Ashique Kuruniyan cuts inside and tries to find Sunil Chhetri, who's inside the box, but...
And stoppage. An Afghan player is down. It's the captain, Farshad Noor. Cooling break!
24' - Subhasish Bose keeps his cool and opts to retreat. Suresh Wangjam, meanwhile, gets a chance to showcase his footwork. From the following play, Brandon Fernandes wins a corner. Then another one. Ashique Kuruniyan, inadvertently, sends in the ball and it just misses the bar.
21' - India, in their bid to play slick, one-touch game, are allowing Afghanistan to win too many second balls.
19' - India, sure, using every inch of the field. Sandesh Jhingan releases a long ball after a few inter-play, but fails to find Sunil Chhetri. Goal kick for Afghanistan. And it reaches India's goal-mouth. Clearance from Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
17' - Noor Husin goes for a long ranger, and it fails to test India goalie. Still a good attempt, against the run of the play.
16' - India are having a greater share of possession and also have better opportunities but Afghanistan are still in the play. And the first card of the match goes to a coach. Igor Stimac gets a booking. He's talking and talking.
13' - Brilliant take from Omid Popalzay. He then releases it, but Indian defenders alert. Referee cautions Haroon Amiri for pulling Ashique Kuruniyan. Free kick to India inside the Afghan half.
11' - Sunil Chhetri released. And the skipper, cutting inside from the left, hits the target. And third corner for India as Ovays Azizi fails to keep the ball in play. Scramble from the corner. India waste another chance.
9' - Simulation from Sharif Mukhammad. India want a booking. A free-kick and Suresh Wangjam produces a brilliant run and win another corner for India. Brandon Fernandes' delivery finds a towering Sandesh Jhingan, but nothing from his header. Good clearance by Afghan defenders.
7' - Now, Afghanis are pressing hard. Win a throw-in inside the attacking third. Ashique Kuruniyan clears, then another attack from the Afghanis. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into action. Easy take.
5' - Young Glan Martins and Chinglensana Konsham are having a good spell in the centre. Afghanistan get their first attempt, thanks to a counter, and Chinglensana blocks it.
3' - Earnest start from India. A brief spell from Afghanistan, then another bristling run. Suresh Wangjam in control.
1' - Free-roaming Chinglensana Konsham on the ball, and soon Manvir Singh wins a corner.
7:30 PM IST: Afghanistan, in whites, win the toss and they chose side. India, in blues, will kick-off.
7:28 PM IST: Anthems done. India's target is a third-place finish in the group, and a draw is all that they need.
7:25 PM IST: Players are out for the national anthems.
7:17 PM IST: Tonight's match will be conducted by Ali Reda of Lebanon.
7:08 PM IST: Here's a look at the head-to-head record!
India and Afghanistan have played each other nine times, with the first match in 1951. The last meeting was in 2019. India lead the head-to-head record 6-1. Two matches have ended in draws. India's lone defeat was in 2013, in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship final at Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, Kathmandu, Nepal.
6:54 PM IST: All eyes will be on India captain, Sunil Chhetri. He needs a a goal to enter the top-ten in all-time international goal-scoring charts, and a hat-trick to tie with Pele himself, on 77.
6:50 PM IST: Here are the team sheets -
India: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (gk), Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose, Chinglensana Konsham, Sandesh Jhingan, Glan Martins, Manvir Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Sunil Chhetri (c), Suresh Wangjam, Ashique Kuruniyan.
Subs: Dheeraj Moirangthem (gk), Amrinder Singh (gk), Adil Khan, Anirudh Thapa, Bipin Thounaojam, Pronay Halder, Udanta Kumam, Lalengmawia, Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad, Akash Mishra, Pritam Kotal.
Afghanistan: Ovays Azizi (gk), Masih Saighani, David Najem, Haroon Amiri, Noor Husin, Farshad Noor (c), Faysal Shayesteh, Milad Intezar, Amir Sharifi, Omid Popalzay, Sharif Mukhammad
Subs: Adam Najem, Zubayr Amiri, Jabar Sharza, Noraollah Amiri, Abdul Najem, Q Maziar Kouhyar, Husain Alizada, Fardin Hakimi, Samir Samandari, Hossein Zamani, Faisal Ahmad Hamidi, Hamidullah Wakili
6:37 PM IST: Afghanistan share images from their locker room.
6:33 PM IST: Glimpses from the past few meetings. Must watch!
6:30 PM IST: Indian national team head coach Igor Stimac dismissed apprehensions that India may play out for a draw.
“I need to say that I don’t know any coach or any team who would come out playing for a draw,” Stimac stated at the official pre-match press conference on Monday.
India are currently on six points after seven matches in comparison to Afghanistan's five points from seven games.
Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu added: “I think it’s important for us to stay fresh and face this new challenge against a very good side. Afghanistan have good quality players who can manipulate the ball and convert if given the chance. So, we need to make sure that as players, we stick to the plan and that we make life difficult for the other team and try to finish with a smile.”
The India vs Afghanistan match kicks off at 7.30 pm IST, and the match will be telecast live in India on the Star Sports Network and also be streamed live on Disney + Hotstar and Jio TV.
