India lost to Qatar on Sunday with 1-2 in the second match of Group H of the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers. The match was played at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha. The Men in Blue started with good pace and Muhammad Suhail got a chance to score in the second minute itself. He shot from outside the box but it missed the crossbar.
Qatar gradually took control of the game. In the 18th minute Al Hashmi Mohialdin scored a header to give the team the lead. The Indian defence failed to stop the goal. Later, the two teams engaged in a tough midfield fight. The score remained unchanged in the first half despite India’s persistent attempts to tie the score.
The Men in Blue made a strong comeback in the second half. In the 52nd minute, McCartan intercepted the ball and passed it to Suhail. Suhail crossed the ball towards Sannan. Sannan scored with a header to make the score 1-1.
ALSO READ: PKL Season 12: Haryana Steelers beats U Mumba in tie-breaker
“It was a great fight by the team, I’m proud of them. We could have had a better result, but we need to keep our heads high and look (forward) to the next game. We still have hope to qualify as the second-best team. It’s important that we stay focused,” said coach Naushad Moosa.
But in the 67th minute, the course of the game changed. India’s defender Pramveer committed a foul inside the box. The referee gave a penalty and sent Pramveer out by showing him the second yellow card of the match. India was playing with 10 players. Qatar captain Jasim Al Sharshani converted the penalty into a goal to give the team the lead again. The score became 2-1.
After this Qatar created many chances. Indian goalkeeper Sahil had great saves. The defence also worked hard. After the 90th minute, India got one last chance. Aimen scored a corner in injury time. The ball had to reach Shiwaldo’s head, but the goal could not be scored. With this the match ended.
Now Qatar has strong position in Group H. They have six points from two matches. There is only one match remains for India. The team will have to improve and play with patience in the next match.
This defeat is a challenge for India. The team will now have to strengthen strategy and teamwork. The young players showed hard work and enthusiasm. The Qatar team is playing with confidence. Qatar is at the top of the Group H table. India will have to make all efforts to win the next match.
