Lower-ranked Afghanistan shocked India 2-1 despite talisman Sunil Chhetri scoring 94th in his 150th match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday The team scored, but the home team still suffered one of the most embarrassing defeats in recent years. In this landmark game, Chhetri lived up to the expectations and scored from the penalty spot in the 37th minute after Haroon Amiri handled the ball in the penalty area in the second home match of India’s United Qualifiers. . World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Afghanistan counterattacked with three forwards, and in the 71st minute, Rahmat Akbari’s shot from outside the penalty area deflected and passed through the legs of Rahul Bheke to equalize. Score, 1-1.
Disaster struck for the Indians when the charging Gurpreet Singh was shown a yellow card and Sharif Mohammed took a penalty kick (88th minute) to give India a 2-1 lead with two minutes of normal time left.
Afghanistan goalkeeper Ovays Azizi guessed it right but 39-year-old Chhetri fired with power and beat the visiting goalkeeper to the delight of a packed Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. The crowd at Gandhi Athletic Stadium was delighted and looking forward to a great performance. -Favorite football player.
After a short spurt, Chhetri’s goal separated the two teams on the stroke of half-time, with India holding on to the lead until Rahmat Akbari’s equalizer in the 71st minute. Then Mukhammad’s goal finally tied the score. Team India will hope that the visitors can get three points from this match.
Even before that, Liston Colaco had come close to doubling India’s lead. But he failed to control the ball and the Afghans managed to win it back from him.
Manvir Singh missed a good chance to give India the lead early in the game, but after Chhetri’s shot hit the woodwork, he grabbed the rebound and fired his shot over the net.
India head coach Igor Stimac made 3 substitutions, using Anirudh Thapa, Naorem Mahesh and Lalianzaura Chant to replace Brandon Fernandez, Lee Stone Colaco and Chhetri.
However, the changes did not extend India’s dominance and instead, the visitors equalized. Things got even worse for India as the visitors knocked another wicket past a hapless Sandhu to leave the Indians heartbroken.
On March 22, the first round match between India and Afghanistan ended in a 0-0 draw in Abha, Saudi Arabia.
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