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Updated : Mar 22, 2024 02:33 IST
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File Photo: India's starting eleven before the start of the AFC Asian Cup football match against Syria | Photo Credit: AFP
Welcome to Sportstar’s highlights of the Afghanistan vs India FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers match from the Damac Stadium in Saudi Arabia. This was Karthik Mudaliar taking you through the pre-match buildup and bringing you live updates from the clash.
The game ends with a goalless draw with both sides failing to be effecient and prolific with the finishing. India did everything right expect when it came to making the final pass and the moments it did get it right, the finishing was just not up to the mark. The addition of Liston on the right wing did help India create a lot of chances towards the end of the 0, however, no attacker could finish it in the net for the blue tigers. Subhasish Bose’s header in the 79th minute was the only time India came close to the goal in second half. A disappointing outing for the away side as it would hope to do better in the home leg, which is set to be played in Guwahati on March 26.
Liston plays a cross that reaches Mahesh Singh insside the box, but he takes too much time to fire a shot and the ball is stolen off of him. Big chance wasted by India in the dying embers of the game.
5 minutes awarded as added time.
Subhasish makes a crucial tackle at the edge of the box
India, on the prowl for a goal again pushes ahead. Liston sprints down the right flank and plays as pass inside the box but both, Chhetri and Brandon couldn’t get themselves into a position to receive and score.
India almost scores as a cross from the corner kick meets Subhasish Bose in the near post but his strong header misses the target, but only just.
India tries to use pace on the right wing as Liston chanses the ball in the final third on the right. The ball goes out for a corner.
Mahesh Singh gives the ball away as he found himself with the ball in the final third, however, fails to make a pass in time.
Afghanistan plays a ball over the box on the far post for Akbari but the ball goes out.
Manvir Singh, Chhangte and Jeakson have been subbed out.
Afghanistan could have been through on goal but the pass into the box by Popalzay lacked both power and quality.
Manvir cuts it into the box for Chhetri but the skipper fails to reach it in time and the ball is cleared away yet again.
Manvir Singh plays a cross into the box but it is blocked and cleared away by the Afghan backline.
Afghanistan misses a golden opportunity. A through for Akbari into the box as he reaches the ball. He could have taken a shot, but chooses to square it to Popalzay. Rahul Bheke makes a crucuial interception in front of goal making sure the scores are level!
Vikram and Akash Mishra make way for Brandon Fernandes and Subhasish Bose.
A chance goes begging for India as Akash Mishra wins the ball and dribbles ahead on the left flank. He crosses it in to Vikram but his finish goes off-target.
India breaks into a counter that seemed fruitful however, Vikram fails to reach a through pass in time in the middle of the park and fouls an opponent instead. Yellow card given.
India launched a good attack but Manvir found himself isolated in the right wing. He managed to pass it behind to Apuia but his return pass is intercepted easily by Afghanistan.
Vikram Apuia plays a chip into the box for Vikram who was through on goal as he dribbles from the left but is forced out before he could fire a shot.
Vikram Pratap was inches away from a dink inside the box as the ball bounces to the Afghan keeper. The home side breaks into a counter but India falls back and crowds its box giving no room for a shot.
Afghanistan resumes the match. India wins the ball back and was through on goal but Akash Mishra goes down after a collision. Ref says no foul and the game continues.
The game is level at half-time with both sides missing good chances. India is failing to make the final pass in front of goal however, it is controlling the tempo of the game and enjoying the majority of the possession. Afghanistan will be hoping to do better in its finishing since they are doing well on the counter but has no end product to show for. With both sides goalless, the second half will be expected to have more aggressive attacking plays with more players pushing ahead for both the teams.
India was on the front foot as Chhetri passes it Vikram who pushes the ball out on the left wing for Chhangte. The winger plays a cross-in for Chhetri in front of goal but the ball lacked quality.
3 minutes given as added time.
Sharza takes a free-kick from distance and shockingly went for goal. The ball had a lot of movement and was right on target but Sandhu punches it away.
Poojari makes a crucial block on Afghanistan’s left wing as he stops Skandari’s cross.
A good move by India but no end product. Manvir plays it to Poojary on the right as he crosses it back in for Manvir. The attacker heads it towards far post hoping to find a teammate for a tap-in but neither Vikram nor Chhetri could make it in time.
Vikram sprints with ball ahead on the left flank but his cross is cleared away by Afghanistan for a corner.
Chhetri gets hold of the ball in the middle of the park and tries to pass it ahead to Vikram but ball lost by India.
Vikram Partap Singh takes a touch too many inside the box as he did get the ball down well inside the box, but took too long to take a chance on gpal.
Afghanistan breaks into a solid counter attack and pushes ahead in numbers. Ahadi takes aside-footed shot from the right from 15 yards out but the tall-figure of Sandhu saves it comfortably.
Afghanistan looked like it was about to score after a cross from behind in the middle of the box, but no teammate managed to attack it in time.
Chhangte brought down 30 yards out of goal. A free-kick opportunity for India. Bheke heads it towards goal off of the cross but it goes over the post. Score remains level.
Manvir Singh receives the ball inside the box but he fails to control it and bring it down in time. Big chance squandered by India.
A chance for Afghanistan as it takes this corner but the cross finds no teammate inside the box.
Manvir Singh was through on goal after receiving a great delivery from the left inside the box but he is ruled off-side.
A loose pass by Akash Mishra in his own half gives the ball away to Afghanistan. Skandari tries to forge an attack but ended up passing it behind. The Afghans are holding possesion and passing it around. Eventually, Sharza takes a shot from the edge of the box but it goes a few inches over the post.
Afghanistan gets a free-kick from 35 yards out. Ahadi steps up to take it and plays it short to Amiri but he puts too much power into his cross and the ball goes out.
A long ball is played for Ahadi on the right but the ball is forced out for a corner.
Poojary slots an early cross in for Chhangte and his header to the near post is saved. The ball goes out for a corner.
Afghanistan appeals for a penalty as Akbari goes down in the box after contact with Jeakson Singh but the ref says no foul.
India kicks the game off and breaks into an attack from the get-go but it goes out for a goalkick.
India’s national football team will face Afghanistan in its away leg of the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification.
India faces Afghanistan away from home in its second group stage match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification on March 21, 2024 in Abha, Saudi Arabia.
The Blue Tigers is all set to face Afghanistan in its third group stage match of the second round, FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification.
Ovays Azizi, Mahboob Hanifi, Haroon Amiri (C), Habibulla Askar, Mosawer Ahadi, Rahmat Akbari, Jabar Sharza, Taufee Skandari, Zelfagar Nazary, Omid Popalzay, Sharif Mukhammad.
Afghanistan: Azizi; Nzary, Hanifi, Amiri, Askar; Asekzai, Skandari, Popalzay, Azadzoy; Sharifi, Arezou
India: Sandhu; Bheke, Poojary, Anwar, Mishra; Apuia, Jaekson; Chhangte, Chhetri, Mahesh; Mehtab
The FIFA World Cup qualifier between Afghanistan and India match on March 22, 2024 will be streamed live on FanCode.
The match will also be broadcast live on DD Sports.
FIFA World Cup Qualifier: India eyes three points as Jeakson, Anwar return against weakened Afghanistan
The Indian football team will renew its quest for a maiden entry into the third round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers when it faces a weakened Afghanistan here on Thursday.
The Indian football team will renew its quest for a maiden entry into the third round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers when it faces a weakened Afghanistan here on Thursday.
Comments
Sunil Chhetri /
Indian football /
Lallianzuala Chhangte /
Afghanistan
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