Indian football shows familiar problems as they loose to Tajikistan in 2019 Intercontinental Cup opener
By the creator of this work [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Team India lost to Tajikistan yesterday 4-2 in 2019 Intercontinental Cup opener showing they are not invincible at home. It is not a good start to the campaign.
India now need to win their remaining two fixtures in the competition to give themselves a chance to play the final. Two other teams in the competition are Syria and North Korea.
The game yesterday is a learning lesson for coach Igor Stimac and co. that international football should be given due respect as any opponent is their to compete, so were the central asians Tajikistan.
Tajikistan were trailing in the game before dramatically coming back in the game and going on to win. They played some good football.
Sunil Chhetri was the standout for India as India fans were on to witness Chhetri magic. He put the team in front with a 4th minute penalty after which India played positive football with Chhetri scoring again in the 41st minute. Half time then arrived.
The Tajiks had work to do as they looked forward to the second half. But team India gave them gifts in terms of a poor defensive display which let Tajikistan back in game big time.
Komron Tursunov, Sheriddin Boboev, Muhammadjon Rakhimov and Shahrom Samiev all were on the scoresheets with Tajikistan amassing 4 goals boosting their goal difference.
It ended Indian hopes of a dream start to the tournament but they played with the aim to win it but just couldn’t execute it well in the end.
Must be disappointing for Indian football as a whole as the domestic scenario is not in good condition plus a poor showing at international level. They can only go up from here as has been the case for Indian football for forever.
They play North Korea next on the 13th July.
