Indian gamers through the CAFA Nations Cup match towards Tajikistan, on August 29, 2025. Source:X/@IndianFootball
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stood tall under the bar with a sequence of gorgeous saves, together with a spot-kick, as India, under new coach Khalid Jamil, beat higher-ranked Tajikistan 2-1 in their opening match of the CAFA Nations Cup soccer match on Friday.
World No. 133 India scored by defenders Anwar Ali (fifth) and Sandesh Jhingan (thirteenth) after which doggedly defended towards the 106th ranked hosts for the remaining 75 minutes.
Jamil, in his first match as India head coach, could not have requested for a greater consequence and credit score ought to go to skipper Gurpreet, who returned to the beginning XI after being sidelined under former coach Manolo Marquez.
“Indian fans had waited for this result for a long time. I know we defended deep at times but we are still rusty but we need to build on this win. We need to show more character against Iran,” Jhingan stated in a snap interview.
Centrebacks rating
Lack of high quality in the attacking third remains to be a giant downside however on Friday, centre backs Anwar and Jhingan took it upon themselves to finish India’s scoring draught that had stretched to three worldwide video games throughout the first quarter-hour.
The form that the workforce saved in each assault and defence had signature Jamil written throughout it. The lateral backs — Rahul Bheke and Muhammed Uvais Moyikkal initially went on overlap though after a pair targets, they surprisingly went right into a defensive mould.
Anwar, maybe Indian soccer workforce’s most priceless possession in the meanwhile, had his identify on the scoresheet in the fifth minute when he headed in from a goalmouth melee following a protracted throw-in from Uvais from the left flank.
The Tajik defender, who tried to impact a goalline save noticed his kick rebound inside his personal purpose after hitting one other participant. The referee, nonetheless, awarded the purpose to Anwar.
The lead was doubled in the thirteenth minute when Anwar, after failing to management the ball along with his first contact, went in the direction of huge proper and despatched a left-footed swerving cross which was powerfully headed by Bheke. Goalkeeper Muhriddin Hasanov barely parried it and Jhingan lurking shut by stabbed it house.
Hosts combat again
However, main 2-0, Jamil’s males all of a sudden tried to shut store and this gave the house workforce, buoyed by vociferous native help, an opportunity to claw again into the sport.
Suddenly Bheke and Uvais weren’t as busy down the flanks as they have been in the primary quarter-hour. The hard-press sport did give Tajiks a glance in and eventually they pulled one again in the twenty third minute.
It was Sheriddin Boboev, who freed Shahrom Samiev, who beat Jhingan with energy and pace after which positioned it to the left of surging Gurpreet to make it 1-2.
India’s central midfield was nearly non-existent through the interval each Suresh Singh Wangjam and Lallianzuala Chhangte not making any affect.
Gurpreet saves the day
The start of the second half was much more ominous for the Indians as Gurpreet was saved busy with some stinging purpose certain makes an attempt that he managed to preserve away.
The Indian head coach made three modifications in the second half — East Bengal’s Naorem Mahesh Singh as an attacking wing half, Nikhil Prabhu as a defensive display and Danish Farooq to complement him.
However, Tajiks’ high-line fashion of play additionally left little or no house and Indian forwards Vikram Partap Singh and Irfan Yadawad have been merely spectators for the higher a part of the match. But that had quite a bit to do with central midfield not feeding them with sufficient balls and extra intent on conserving Tajik attackers at bay.
In the wave of assaults, Tajikistan in the end earned a penalty when Vikram Partap had a hand on the Tajikistan striker Rustam Soirov’s shoulder and he fell contained in the field.
However, Gurpreet dived to his proper and his lengthy legs prevented Soirov’s spot-kick.
It was in the eighty fifth minute that Naorem Mahesh’s left-footed pile driver off a counter was saved by Hasanov.
Towards the tip, Gurpreet as soon as once more effected a surprising save, his fifth of the second half.
Published – August 30, 2025 11:08 am IST
