INDIA SCORE LATE TO DENY AFGHANISTAN VICTORY

INDIA SCORE LATE TO DENY AFGHANISTAN VICTORY

India held Afghanistan to a 1-1 draw with the away team scoring at the death to deny their opponents a crucial victory. India struggled to create clear cut chances in the game but were fortunate to come away with a point.


The game was a tale of two halves with the hosts having the upper hand in the first half with India conceding several set pieces. It was clear from the onset that Afghanistan saw the left-back of the Indian team as the week point.

They target that area of the pitch putting in dangerous crosses but India were able to clear out with ease.  However, the tempo of the game suggested that it was only a matter of time before the home side would score.

That was what happened before the end of the first half as Afghanistan found a way to breach the Indian defence in added time. David Najem got behind the defence and squared the ball for ZelfagarNazary to slot home.

Afghanistan took the lead to the break but the second half saw a different response from the away side. India came with more purpose as they looked to salvage a result from the game. They came close during the hour mark when Sunil Chhetri directed a free header to the opposing goalkeeper when put on goal.

Chhetri also hit the post some few minutes later after meeting a cross from a corner kick with the empty goal at his mercy. However, India would eventually find the equalizer deep into stoppage time after substitute SeiminlenDoungel restored parity with a well-taken header off Brandon’s delivery from the corner.

This meant that both teams would take a point from the game that suited neither. India manager will be impressed by how his team dug deep to find the equalizer.