0:
Indian football side are set to lock horns with Afghanistan in their final World Cup Qualifiers match on Tuesday. While the Blue Tigers have been ruled out of the World Cup race, there is still a lot to play for Igor Stimac's side. India can still qualify directly to third round of AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers with a win or a draw at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Qatar today. Can India complete the job today or will Afghanistan spoil their party? Let's wait and watch.
Welcome to the live blog of India vs Afghanistan.
FULL TIME IN DOHA! INDIA 1-1 AFGHANISTAN
ONE POINT SECURES INDIA'S PLACE IN THIRD ROUND OF AFC ASIAN CUP 2023 QUALIFIERS
BLUE TIGERS FINISH AT THIRD SPOT IN GROUP E
90+4' India gets a free kick
Blue Tigers have been awarded a free kick in the final stages of the game and the referee blows the final whistle with it being the last piece of action. It's full time as match ends in a 1-1 draw.
90+3' Free kick for Afghanistan
Afghanistan gets a free kick as the ball is delivered in a dangerous area but Gurpreet Singh jumps high to take claim of the ball. Safe hands from Indian goal-keeeper.
4 added minutes in Doha...
89' Chance for Manvir
Subhasish Bose produces a good-looking cross and finds Manvir Singh who mistimes his jump and heads it over the cross-bar.
Two goals in space of 7 minutes has certainly lighten up the game. Exciting final few minutes await as we get set for a grand-stand finish.
82' EQUALIZER FOR AFGHANISTAN
Brilliant play by Afghanistan as Hossein Zamani finds the back of the net with a brilliant curling effort from his right foot. INDIA 1-1 AFGHANISTAN
75' GOOAAAALLLL FROM INDIA!
Ashique Kuruniyan delivers a cross from the left flank as Afghanistan's goalkeeper Ovays Azizi jumps high to catch the ball. He makes a complete mess as the ball slips away and finds the back of the net. Lucky break for India. Own goal by Azizi. It's India 1-0 Afghanistan.
73' Silly from Manvir
Manvir Singh shows his inexperience as he slaps Zohib Amiri on the face in frustration. The youngster is lucky to get away as it could have been a red card if the referee had spotted it.
68' Chhetri comes off
Sunil Chhetri hits the ball just over the cross-bar with a well taken free kick from the left. It was his last piece of action as he gets replaced by Liston Colaco.
66' Brilliant play from Popalzay
Afghanistan's Omid Popalzay deceives Subhasish Bose with some smart play and gets in a shot at goal. The ball just flies over the cross-bar as Gurpreet had it covered.
62' Substitution for Blue Tigers
Brandon Fernandes has been taken off for India as Lalengmawia (Apuia) comes on. It could be a change in tactics from Igor Stimac.
58' Long throw-in by India
India takes a well-taken throw-in from the right flank as Sunil Chhetri rises highest inside the box and gets his header. The ball loops in the air and goes straight into the hands of Ovays Azizi.
48' Bad decision-making from Ashique
Ashique Kuruniyan wins the ball brilliantly and gets India forward for a dangerous-looking move. Sunil Chhetri was standing free down the left but the wing-back ignores him as he tries to go all alone but unfortunately loses the ball in the end.
46' Second half begins
The referee blows the whistle as second half in Doha kicks off.
The players are making their way back on the field after a 15-minute break as we get set for final 45 minutes of action.
The referee blows the whistle. It's half-time in Doha.
INDIA 0 - 0 AFGHANISTAN
45' Another chance goes begging
Suresh Wangjam finds himself in a lot of space as he tries to play a through ball for Manvir Singh. The ball gets intercepted and another chances goes begging for India. Suresh could have been better off taking a shot himself.
42' Easy save for Gurpreet
Amiruddin Sharifi blasts in a long-range effort at India's goal. The left-footed strike goes straight into the hands of Gurpreet Singh.
38' Rahul Bheke gets lucky
India's defender Rahul Bheke complete misses the ball and catches Afghanistan player with his right foot. He luckily gets away with only a warning which looked like a certain yellow card.
35' Rash tackle by Chinglensana
Afghanistan tries to counter attack through Omid Popalzay but Chinglensana stops the attack with a rash tackle. He receives a yellow card from the referee as a result.
30' Huge injury blow for Afghanistan
Afghanistan captain Farshad Noor has been taken off after he suffered an unfortunate injury post a tackle by Glan Martins. He is being replaced by Abdul Najem.
25' Missed opportunity for India
Ashique Kuruniyan produces a brilliant run down the left wing and dribbles past everyone to get inside the final third. The wing-back fires in a low pass towards Chhetri but the cross gets intercepted by Afghanistan defenders. A better pass could have given a golden opportunity to Indian captain.
21' Brilliant skills by Suresh
The Bengaluru FC midfielder dribbles past players in the centre of the field and drives a foul from Afghanistan. Brilliant piece of trickery by Suresh Wangjam.
16' Yellow card for Stimac
Indian manager Igor Stimac has received a booking from the referee after he vented out his frustration by throwing a bottle on the sidelines.
10' Shot by Chhetri
Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri receives the ball in some space as he dribbles past the defenders and takes a left-footed shot. It draws an easy save from goalkeeper as India gets another corner.
9' Good move by India
Manvir takes on the Afghanistan defenders and finds Suresh down the right flank who tries to cross in first time but the ball gets deflected for another corner. Sandesh Jhingan rises high on the resulting set piece but Afghanistan defends it.
7' Game settling well
Both the sides have made cautious start to the match. While India are keeping more of possession, Afghanistan are looking dangerous on counter.
1' Bright start by India
Subhashish Bose wins the ball for India and Brandon Fernandes finds Manvir Singh with a delightful pass. The Indian forward fires in a shot which gets deflected by the goalkeeper for a corner.
7:30 PM IST: Action begins in Doha
The referee Ali Reda blows the whistle as India gets the action underway.
7:28 PM IST: India wins the toss
Sunil Chhetri has won the toss and he has opted to start the game. Meanwhile, Afghanistan have switched sides.
7:25 PM IST: Time for national anthems
The players of both sides look absolutely pumped up as their national anthems are being played ahead of the crucial match. Amazing scenes in Doha!
7:20 PM IST: A draw/win for India will keep them at 3rd spot
This is how the second round Group E standings look like:
1. Qatar (22 points)
2. Oman (15 points)
3. India (6 points)
4. Afghanistan (5 points)
5. Bangladesh (2 points)
7:15 PM IST: 15 minutes to kickoff
6:50 PM IST: Here are the starting line-ups for both sides:
India: Gurpreet Singh, Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhashish Bose, Glan Martins, Suresh Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Ashique Kuruniyan, Manvir Singh, Sunil Chhetri (c)
Afghanistan: Ovays Azizi, Masih Saighani, David Najem, Zohib Amiri, Noor Husin, Farshad Noor (c), Faisal Shayesteh. Milad Intezar, Amiruddin Sharifi, Omid Popalzay, Sharif Mukhammad