Doungel Saves The Day For India With Stoppage Time Leveller

Igor Stimac’s India played yet another draw in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers as Afghanistan restricted them to a 1-1 draw at Dushambe.

After four matches in Group E, the fourth-placed India have collected three points with three draws and they are now six short of Oman who will host India on Tuesday.

The Blue Tigers kicked off the game positively as they looked confident on the field with Pritam Kotal creating chances with the cross from the right side of the field. However, after initials jitters, Afghanistan regained their ground.

India had an opportunity to take the lead in the 27th minute as Ashique Kuruniyan took a free-kick from the edge of the opponent’s penalty area, but his shot was slightly off target.

Ashique was up to the task again in the 34th minute as he made a dangerous move passing two Afghani defenders in the box before being blocked by a third.

Two minutes later, Afghanistan had a shot on target which was fended well by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Just when it felt that both the teams will go tied at 0-0 in the first half, Afghanistan broke the deadlock when their full back David Najem’s cross from the right flank was put past the Indian shotstopper Gurpreet by Zelfagar Nazary.

India tried to equalize in the closing moments of the first half through a long range shot by Brandon Fernandes, but it went wide as scoreline read 1-0 in Afghanistan’s favour.

The visitors looked to equalize early in the second half as a flurry of chances were created, but with no avail.

The Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri could have scored the leveller when Pritam’s cross found him in the box, but his header was saved by the Afghan goalie Ovays Azizi.

Manvir, also on as a sub, had a chance in the 84th minute as he jumped well to meet a chip from Chhetri, but his header went wide of the post.

It was eventually Seiminlen Doungel who saved the day for India as he headed in his maiden goal in blue jersey to equalize in the 93rd minute.