Indian football team suffered a 0-3 defeat against Qatar in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Bhubaneshwar in their second game. Igor Stimac's team could not build up any resistance against the Champions of Asia. Although Indian players impressed each and everyone in certain periods of the game, those were not good enough to make millions of Indians delighted. This was India's first defeat at home this season. Moustafa Tarek Mashal, Almoez Ali and Yusuf Abdurisag were the scorers for Qatar.
Igor Stimac made five changes to the playing eleven which won against Kuwait by 0-1 last week. Gurpreet Singh was replaced by Amrinder Singh, who is familiar with Kalinga Stadium more than anyone in the team. Somehow, Manvir did not appear on the squad as well after a match winning performance. Udanta Singh replaced him in the eleven. Chhangte and Anirudh Thapa also made a comeback in the eleven.
India had to suffer and early goal against the current champions of Asia. Somehow, the defence looked pretty nervous against Qatari attack and Moustafa Tarek Mashal did not miss the chance to put Qatar ahead in the 4th minute of the game. Indian defenders failed to clear out the ball and Moustafa's right footer was good enough to beat Amrinder, who replaced Gurpreet in the squad from the last game against Kuwait.
But post that goal, Indian defenders managed to look more composed on the filed. Subhasish Bose and Sandesh Jhingan were managed to block some on-target shots to deny the number two from Qatar.
In the 21st minute, Amrinder put his body on the line to block a cross Aram Afif from the left of the box. Five minutes later, Subhasish had to come in the rescue for the Indian team after a mishap by Udanta in the midfield.
But, it was after 35th minute of the game that Indian team looked like the team of the recent times. Attack after attack from the Indian wingers ,ade things hard for the away team. Lalianzuala Chhangte on the left along with Anirudh Thapa and Undanta Singh looked the Igor Stimac's team that we know.
In the 35th minute, Sunil first missed a header from a cross from Chhangte who was able to go past the defenders on the left. Sunil could not jump high enough to get the header in for India to get the equaliser.
A minute later, Apuia missed the first genuine chance of the match. A brilliant buildup from Nikhil Poojary, Udanta Singh and then Anirudh Thapa provided Apuia to look and shoot. However, he failed to do so as his shot was way over the bar. Later, in the 42nd minute, it was Anirudh Thapa who missed another chance to provide India the goal they were looking for.
India finished the first half on a positive note but somehow were disappointed not to be grabbing the chances.
Igor Stimac made an early substitution in the second half of the India vs Qatar FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match in Bhuabenshwar. Mahesh Singh replaced Udanta Singh as India looked for goals to stay in the match. However, India's plan never came to reality as a minute later to the whistle, Almoez Ali gave Qatar their second goal after a rebound ball from Akram Afif.
In the 57th minute, Subhasish Bose made another block to not to tourble the scorers. Bose, who had his eyes on the ball till the very last minute blocked n on-target shot from Hasan Al Haydos.
After Sahal Abdul Samad reaplced Anirudh Thapa to intensify the forward line, India looked more confident in the attack. Two minutes after coming on the pitch, Sahal nearly pulled things back for India, but could not manage the finish he was looking for. Apuia's cross from the halfline found Sahal on the left who was surely unmarked from the Qatari defenders.
Although Indian defenders tried to put up a fight fir the rest of the game, India forward could not do anything to put Qatar under pressure. With seven minutes to go in the match, Rahul KP and Ishan Pandita reaplced Chhangte and Sunil Chhetri to put some fresh legs on the pitch. Rahul did try to put a cross for Sahal right after coming on the pitch, the cross was not good enough to breakthugh Qatar defence.
In the 86th minute, substitute Yusuf Abdurisag provided Qatar with their third goal of the match. Yusuf was unmarked by the Indian defenders and Amrinder stood their in his place to allow Yusuf to score from Homam Ahmed's corss.
