India entered the match with high hopes of claiming a victory but left empty-handed as Afghanistan staged a remarkable comeback, clinching a 2-1 win in Guwahati as India struggled to withstand the pressure.
Despite India’s early dominance, exemplified by a missed opportunity when Liston Colaco and Brandon Fernandes combined to set up Sunil Chhetri, the Afghan defense held firm. Chhetri, celebrating his 150th appearance, struck the post, and Manvir Singh failed to convert the rebound.
At halftime, India seemed in control after Chhetri calmly converted a penalty earned by Amiri’s handball. However, the second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum.
Following a triple substitution by India, Afghanistan seized the initiative. A fortuitous goal from Rahmat Akbari, deflected past Rahul Bheke, leveled the score at 1-1, exposing India’s shaky defense.
In the dying moments, Gurpreet Singh’s rash challenge conceded a penalty, allowing Sharif Mukhammed to secure victory for Afghanistan, compounding India’s defensive woes.
The defeat places India second in the standings, level on points with Afghanistan, intensifying pressure on coach Igor Stimac ahead of their crucial qualifier against Kuwait in Kolkata.
Stimac expressed disappointment in his players’ lack of control and intensity in post-match remarks, emphasizing the need for improvement. However, he remains optimistic about India’s prospects in future fixtures.
In contrast, Afghanistan’s head coach, Ashley Westwood, praised his team’s resilience and tactical awareness, hailing the victory as deserved. Despite challenges in training, Westwood instilled confidence in his players, emphasizing their attacking prowess and determination to secure a result against India.
