India Started Its 2025 Cafa Nations Cup Marketing campaign with a Landmark 2-1 Victory Over Hosts Tajikistan in Dushanbe on Friday, Ending an 18-YAR WAIT for A Win Towards the Central Asian Aspect. The blue tigers, LED by new head coach khalid jamil, struck early via anwar ali and sandesh jhingan earlier than surviving waves of strain of strain within the second-half, with goalkeepreet singh sandhu Producing a heroic efficiency in between the sticks.
The guests ought to begin brightly, unsettling tajikistan with their depth. Within the fifth minute, anwar ali rose highest to fulfill a protracted throw from uvais and compelled a defensive error that ended with the ball within the internet. Simply Eight Minutes Later, India Doubled their benefit. Anwar turned the supplier, whipping in a harmful nook that LED to Rahul Bheke’s Header Being Blocked, ONLY FOR JHINGAN TO Slam Residence the Rebound.
What a begin to the khalid jamil period #Tjkind #CafanationationScup2025 #Indianfootball pic.twitter.com/wizt36Meb9– Fancode (@Fancode) August 29, 2025
Tajikistan, rattled however resilient, clawed their method again when samiev mixed well with panshanbe and boboev earlier than ending previous gurpreet within the twenty third minute. The hosts pushed ahead seeking parity, however India’s backline assist agency to enter halftime with a Slender 2-1 Lead.
The second half was all about Tajikistan’s Assault Towards India’s Protection. Roared on by a packed residence crowd, the hosts unleashed a flurry of pictures, set items, and crosses. Gurpreet Sandhu, Nonetheless, Stood Tall, Making Essential Saves from Jalilov, Safarov, and Shukurov. India, In the meantime, Laked to Counter By means of Vikram Partap Singh and Irfan Yadwad however Struggled to Discover the Ending Contact.
The defining second got here within the 72nd minutes when tajikistan was awarded a penalty after a comfortable foul on soirov. With the strain mounting, soirov stepped up solely to be denied by gurpreet’s sharp save to his proper, Sparking Wild Celebrations Among the many Indian Gamers. Jamil, Thought, Urged Calm from the Sidelines as his facet continued to take in comparatively. India’s Activity Turned More durable when Irfan Picked Up a Critical Harm Late within the Sport and Needed to be Stretchered off.
Regardless of tense closing minutes and a stoppage-time header from Hanonov that flee narrowly large, India assistance on for a well-known win. It was their first Victory Over Tajikistan SINCE SUNIL CHHETRI’s Hat-TRICK within the 2008 AfC Problem Cup and Solely his second in units general. The consequence not solely Gave Jamil a Dream Begin to his tenure but in addition boosted India’s probabilities of progressing from group b, the place they subsequent face IR IR Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4.
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