Asian Cup Qualifiers

India beat Afghanistan 2-1: India took the lead four minutes before full time before Afghanistan equalised two minutes later, only for India to score in ...

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A stunning goal from talisman Sunil Chhetri and an injury-time strike from Sahal Abdul Samad powered India to a 2-1 victory over Afghanistan in the AFC Asian ...

Afghanistan equalised within two minutes as Zubayr Amiri produced a sensational header in the 88th minute of the match. The match seemed headed for a 1-1 stalemate but Samad had other ideas. A stunning goal from talisman Sunil Chhetri and an injury-time strike from Sahal Abdul Samad powered India to a 2-1 victory over Afghanistan in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers here on Saturday.

The win helped India consolidate their position in the group as they seek to make a second straight appearance in the Asian Cup and fifth overall, ...

The match seemed headed for a 1-1 stalemate but Samad had other ideas. Afghanistan equalised within two minutes as Zubayr Amiri produced a sensational header in the 88th minute of the match. The win helped India consolidate their position in the group as they seek to make a second straight appearance in the Asian Cup and fifth overall, having been knocked out in the group stage in the last edition in 2019.

The Indian football team beat Afghanistan 2-1 in the Group D match of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers third round. Sunil Chhetri and Sahal Abdul Samad ...

India have played in the AFC Asian Cup on four occasions; 1964, 1984, 2011 and 2019. With only two minutes of regulation time remaining, India, desperate for a win, kept pressing hard for the winner. What was a cagey affair in the first half, turned into an end-to-end game in the next 45 minutes. Afghanistan midfielder Zubayr Amiri, who was unmarked, pumped in the header and brought the game back to parity. At the end of the first half, both India and Afghanistan had almost equal ball possession. Hong Kong, who beat Cambodia 3-0 earlier in the day, are first.

From drab monotony of the passing in the midfield, as the game looked certain for a goalless draw, a moment of magic from Chhetri, his 83rd for the country, and ...

He was brought down in a dangerous area, as the referee blew his whistle. Stimac looked worried but his commander at the back was up again in no time with half-time following. In the 22nd minute, Ashique tried to take on too many players near the left of the centre line but lost possession. Chhetri took charge but his initial effort and his follow-up were blocked as Anwar’s shot was also headed over. Liston again got the ball on the edge of the left flank and cut inside using his strength and style but was pulled back. High pressing with the word go started to take a toll on the players pretty soon.

Igor Stimac finally looks to have settled on a core for his starting XI and this stability bodes well as India look to qualify for a historic second ...

Jeakson’s presence in the middle of the park certainly gave India a different dimension with his calmness on the ball and an ability to break the lines with progressive passing. And just like that, within a minute, substitute Zubayr Amiri had drawn his side level after taking advantage of non-existent marking to plant a powerful header into the near post. Skipper Chhetri was quiet for most of the early period but came to life towards the end of the first half as he attempted an acrobatic effort which was blocked. The end-product however, was lacking and most of their crosses and cut-backs either went astray or for corners which came to nothing. India started off in what looked like an attacking 4-2-4 with an unchanged backline of Naorem Roshan Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali and Akash Mishra, screened by Jeakson and the indefatigable Suresh Singh Wangjam. Manvir Singh and Ashqiue provided the width on either side with Liston Colaco playing alongside Sunil Chhetri upfront. After a relatively drab affair against Cambodia in their opening game, the fans were given a treat as both teams went at each other’s throats from the very off.