Doha: Indian football team out from 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign after losing 1-0 to Qatar in Doha on Thursday (June 4). Abdulaziz Hate’s strike in the 33rd minute at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium was enough to seal three points in a match for the Asian Champions. The two sides met on Thursday after in playing out a goal-less draw in their first leg match here back in September 2019. From the first whistle the match completely dominated by the hosts creating waves of attacks with eight to nine players charging in the Blue Tiger’s half for the majority of the game. Even if the visitors did get chance to play a long ball it was closed down very quickly by the Qataris.
FT: India 🇮🇳0️⃣-1️⃣🇶🇦 Qatar
Reigning Asian champions 🇶🇦 remain unbeaten in Group E and sit comfortably on top of the group standings 👑 #AsianQualIfiers #INDvQAT pic.twitter.com/zMpWlOBg4h
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) June 3, 2021
Thanks to custodian Gurpeet Singh Sandhu’s brilliant saves and positioning, India avoided an embarrassing score-line but they went down to 10 men early in the first half when Rahul Bheke was sent-off before Qatar got the breakthrough with Abdulaziz found the net from inside the box after India failed clear the ball although their defence kept it tight in the rest of the game.
The visitors did get a few chances when Manvir Singh was brought but were unable see any openings. Lack of enthusiasm going forward proved to be the key factor for their defeat. India with just three points from six games will now take on Bangladesh on June 7.
