60FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, India vs Qatar Football Highlights: A 10-man India defended creditably well as they suffered a 0-1 defeat to Asian champions Qatar in their World Cup qualifying round match in Doha on Thursday. Abdel Aziz scored in the 33rd minute in a match completely dominated by the Qataris. The two sides had played out a goal-less draw in their first leg match here in September 2019.
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India played with 10 men from the 17th minute onwards after defender Rahul Bheke was red carded after a second booking. He had earlier received a yellow card in the ninth minute.
Highlights:
India: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Dheeraj Singh, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Narender Gehlot, Chinglensana Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Adil Khan, Akash Mishra, Subhashish Bose, Udanta Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco, Rowllin Borges, Glan Martins, Anirudh Thapa, Pronoy Halder, Suresh Singh, Lalengmawia Ralte, Abdul Sahal, Yasir Mohammad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Bipin Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, Ishan Pandita, Sunil Chhetri, Manvir Singh.
Abdulaziz Hatem's first-half strike was enough for Qatar to register a 1-0 win against a 10-man India. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu the hero for the Blue Tigers who will take plenty of positives despite the loss. Brilliant defensive display by the men in blue.
Qatar hit the woodwork and India survive. Another wicked shoot from Abdul Salam went straight to the hands of GSS. Can they conjure up a chance at the other end?
Double substitution for Team India. Jersey number 7, Sahal Abdul Samad and Jersey number 17, Liston Colaco coming in for Jersey 22, Ashique and Jersey 21, Suresh. India have made all their 5 transfers available.
Yellow card for Qatar's Jersey number 19 Almoez Ali for a rash foul on Suresh.
Qatar seems happy with the one goal lead, not putting that much pressure on India any more. Indian manager Igor Stimac mockingly gestures at the referee.. He is not happy with the referee's decisions in this match. Words exchanged between Stimac and the referee. Things heating up
That's the third change of the match for team India.Jersey number 19 Akash Mishra coming in for Jersey number 12, Bipin Singh
Substitution for India as Jersey number 16, Apuia comes on for Jersey number 8, Glen Martins, who has been the standout player for India tonight. Glan's impressive debut comes to an end as Apuia replaces him to add fresh legs in the middle of the park.
Another shot from outside the box. This time by Boualem Khoukhi. The power is there but it lacks accuracy. Gurpreet sees it and lets it go. Qatar players are not giving up on their long range hits. Earlier, Almoez Ali plays a one two and tries an audacious one but ends up being a weak shot.
Another great save by Gurpreet early in the second half. Mohammed Muntari had shot from close range but Gurpreet managed to react in a fraction of a second to keep it out. Qatar's left back Abdel Karim Hassan has already had 9 shots in this match..highest than any other player on the pitch.. 2 of the 9 were on targets, and both amazingly saved by Gurpreet.
Second half kicks in with Sunil Chhetri getting off and being replaced by Udanta Singh. Sandesh Jhingan takes on the captaincy band for India.
Qatar beginning the second half like they started with the first one, taking the most chances, this one a shot from close range. Kareem plays a give and go before skipping past Subhasish, but Gurpreet makes himself big to block the effort from a tight angle.
After being reduced to 10-men, India go into the half-time trailing by one goal. Another great save from Gurpreet to keep the score at 0-1 as the half comes to a close. Abdel Aziz' goal the difference at the break.
Ashique Kuruniyan makes a good run down the Qatar defence but as soon as he made his way close to the penalty box he is eased off the ball. Later, Manvir Singh's amazing footwork and shoot blocked by Qatari defense. Another big chance for Team India.
Good catch from Gurpreet. The ball from the left is a good one but the Indian goalkeeper is up to the task. Leaps up for a mid-air collection as Qatar, who have enjoyed over 70% possession so far, move in to pile up the scoreline. Almost the entire Indian side is defending now.
GOAL! Qatar break the deadlock, Abdel Aziz Hatim gets the ball past Gurpreet Sandhu to take 1-0 lead against 10-men after 30 minutes. Abdel Aziz manages to get a shot away through a sea of bodies beating Gurpreet from close range. India conceded after defenders were unable to clear the ball in the box.
What a miss! That could have been 10-men India's golden chance of taking the lead in the match against Qatar. Ashique with a brilliant early cross finds Manvir Singh who almost gets a toe on the end of a cross.
Subhashish Bose tries a through ball, but Sunil Chhetri is caught offside. Qatar are starting to look frustrated. Yusuf Abdulrisag has been the stand out player for Qatar so far with three chances already created. India need to stay alert.
RED CARD! India are down to ten men after Rahul Bheke gets his second yellow within 10 minutes for a deliberate handball. Things looking tricky for the men in blue. Long night for Gurpreet Sandhu ahead.
First quarter of an hour gone. Resilient performance so far at the back and middle of the park. Abdulaziz skies a cutback from the edge of the area. Qatar managed to get behind India there and it was a good chance for the Asian champions.
Rahul Bheke picks up an early booking for a foul in the middle of the park, a rather clumsy challenge. Penalty appeal by Qatar once again, denied by the referee.
Sandesh Jhingan makes a tackle inside the penalty box.. nothing from the referee. So far it's been a replay of the first leg. The defenders are doing well to keep calm and maintain the shape. 0-0 after 9 mins
Qatar with a fiery start, take control from the first minute. Abdulkarim with a shot from outside the box and it's wide as the Indian defence preapares to settle in for a long day at work. Gurpreet called to the line of duty twice already. Abdel Aziz takes a swipe from inside the area, but Gurpreet has it covered.
It's kickoff at the Jasssim Bin Hamad Stadium. The Blue Tigers take on Asian Champions for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Assian Cup Qualifier. India in their traditional blue colours start the proceedings against Qatar's whites.
The players from both the teams and the match officials are out in the middle. First up is the Indian national anthem and then Qatar's. Few momentss before kickoff
As qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup resumes on Thursday, India’s three matches in the next 12 days against Qatar, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will decide Stimac’s future at the helm of the national team, which is still winless and placed fourth among five teams in Group E. READ MORE
Qatar Starting XI: Saad Al Sheeb; Abdelkarim Hassan, Abdel Aziz Hatim, Yusuf Abdurisag, Hasan Al Haydos, Karim Boudiaf, Musaab Khidir Mohamed, Bassam Hisham Alrawi, Boualem Khoukhi, Almoez Ali, Mohammed Muntari
India Playing XI: Gurpreet Singh, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose, Sandesh Jhingan, Glan Martins, Manvir Singh, Sunil Chhetri (C), Bipin Singh, Pritam Kotal, Suresh Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan
Stimac will have the chance to field a full strength Indian team after a long time with all the core players available for selection and without injury concern. That 2019 match against Qatar did not have talisman Sunil Chhteri due to a viral fever and his return will surely boost the confidence of the young Indian side. Chhetri also missed the two international friendlies in March, including the one against UAE, as he was recovering from COVID-19 infection. But there will be gulf is class between the two sides. Qatar are ranked 58th in the FIFA chart against India's 105th.
In that drawn game in 2019 also, Qatar dominated throughout with waves of attacks on the Indian citadel. It was to the credit of goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sandesh Jhingan-led defence that stood tall to deny the Qataris a win. Currently fourth in Group E with three points from five matches, India are already out of reckoning for a World Cup berth but still in contention for the 2023 Asian Cup. Qatar have won five out of their six matches in these qualifiers.