AFC U-23 Asian Cup: India alive in the tournament, finishes second in the group

The Indian football team...Kyrgyzstan in their last match of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers at the Fujairah Stadium, UAE.

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Niladri Biswas
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The Indian football team kept a 0-0 tie on Saturday. Against Kyrgyzstan in their last match of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers at the Fujairah Stadium, UAE. The final standings meant both India and Kyrgyzstan finished with the same points behind UAE. India finished 2nd on goal difference.

However, the Indian football team needed to be established for the qualification process. Therefore a penalty shootout took place to determine the second and third positions. India clinched the shootout 4-2 to secure the second spot in Group E. This victory kept their hopes alive to qualify for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2022.

IND VS KGZ - AFC U-23 Asian Cup - Sportz Point

IND VS KGZ. Photo- AFC Twitter

UAE won their match against Oman the day before. So India began the match with high hopes for a second-place finish in the group. Since Igor Stimac's boys lost to UAE in their last match on Wednesday. Even winning the match would have placed India below UAE on head-to-head.

First placed teams from each group qualify directly. With the best four second-placed teams across all groups barring Group G, which has only two sides.

How Good are India's Chances?

India still has to wait till the matches of other groups finish on Sunday to know if they can qualify for their first-ever AFC U-23 Asian Cup.

Both India and Kyrgyzstan, in the same positions in their group and looking for a win. Both the teams showed plenty of attacking threats in the first half. While India's front three consisting of Rahul KP, Rahim Ali, and Vikram Pratap Singh kept the Kyrgyz defense on alert. The White Falcons created their share of chances with Borubaev Gulzhigit and Maksat Alygulov.

Kyrgyzstan had the better opportunities to take the lead but with Indian goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh being there to keep India safe. The two teams were at 0-0 going into half-time.

The second half had the same attacking threats, with both Dheeraj and Kyrgyz shot-stopper Tokotaev Erzhan needing to get into action in several situations to keep their respective teams from falling behind. Rahul KP was unlucky not to give India the lead in the 73rd minute as his powerful drive from distance had Tokotaev beat but hit the woodwork. The match ended 0-0, ensuring both teams were equal in every aspect of their group. The deadlock called in for a situation where a penalty shootout was needed to determine the second-placed side.

Dheeraj Singh, who performed amazingly in regulation time, carried his form to the tie-breaker and saved the first two kicks from Kyrgyz players. The Indian penalty takers made the advantage as India won the penalty shootout 4-2.

"Very proud of how our boys played today. India deservedly got second place in the group. This was the biggest surprise here in the UAE. With a result like this, we still hope to qualify for the (U-23) Asian Cup," India head coach Igor Stimac said after the match.

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