Kathmandu: Tajikistan beat India 2-0 in the second match of the Group B encounter in the AFC Challenge Cup, played at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal on Friday.
Both the goals were second half by Tajikistan, first Khamarokulov Akhtam gave his team lead in the 60th minute while Davronov Nuriddin doubled the score in 66th minute.
India started the first half on the aggressive note. They made inroads in the rival territory on number of occasions. The Persian rival looked stunned with the India’s attempts.
The first clear chance for the ‘Blue’ came in the 16th minute. On Nabi’s cross Rocus Lamare attempted to score but it was foiled by the Tajik custodian Tuychiev Alisher.
A minute later, on an unselfish Sunil Chhetri’s cross inside the box, Anthony Pereira wasted another chance when his shot went over the bars.
The half which was totally dominated by India remained the story of missed chances and lost opportunity. Had the opportunities being converted, India would have at least two goals cushion in the first half itself.
Changing Over, Tajikistan made a comeback in the game while Indian were also equal to the task. But in the 60th minute Persians took the full advantage of a defensive lapse when Khamarokulov Akhtam found the back of the net on a rebound.
Six minutes later, Tajikistan doubled the lead through Davronov Nuriddin. In the rest of the half India kept pushing to score, but poor finishing upfront didn’t helped them much.
Much to the disappointment of the Indian supporters in the stadium the score remained same till the full time.
Starting XI: Karanjeet Singh; Samir Naik, Gourmangi Singh, Raju Gaikwad, Syed Rahim Nabi; Anthony Pereira - 68th (Jewel Raja), Rocus Lamare, Adil Khan, Francis Fernandes; Sushil Singh - 81st (Joaquim Abranches), Sunil Chhetri (C).
