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Highlights | Spirited India Hold Qatar 0-0 in FIFA World Cup Qualifier

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was the hero as Indian football team held Asian champions Qatar to a goalless draw in their FIFA World Cup qualifier fixture in Doha. Get highlights and analysis of Qatar vs India match below.
Indian football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu makes a save in the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Qatar

Indian football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu makes a save during the FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Qatar in Doha.Get highlights and analysis of the Qatar vs India FIFA World Cup qualifier match below

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu played like a man possessed under the bar while the rest of the Indian football team players showed tremendous resilience and fighting spirit, holding Asian Champions Qatar to a 0-0 draw in their FIFA World Cup qualifier match at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on September 10. The away draw has got things back in control for Igor Stimac´s men, who began their campaign with a loss against Oman in their Group E opener last week.  (Get highlights and analysis of the Qatar vs India FIFA World Cup qualifier match below).

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Rowllin long ranger

12’ Today’s game is going to be about the work rate in the midfield. Manvir drops deep, picks up a stray pass, turns, swivels and gives it to Rowllin. Rowllin tries to play a 40 yard diagonal to the left. No luck.

Hatim Misses Golden Chance

13’ Oh man! Qatar have a glorious chance. Abdel Hatim is gifted the ball at the top of the box -- to the right -- by Mandar Rao Desai, and he calmly takes it on his left foot and tries to curl it into the top corner. At first look it is barely inches wide. On replay its a lot more. Qatar are inching closer.

Weird Comparison with Afghanistan

15’ Not like this is that sort of competition, but by now Afghanistan were already three down. Just saying.

Corner, India Clear

16’ Qatar have a corner. Poojary makes a silly error, caught in two minds about a ball. Cleared away by him at the near post though.

Gurpreet Catch

17’ From the second corner, Gurpreet comes out and gathers.

The Quality Gulf

The ease with which the Qatari midfielders are drifting past the Indians is a) a reality check about the gap in quality and b) a clear demonstration of what happens when you call Xavi (and a host of former Barcelona training staff) into your country and ask them to play football with you. They may have gone down the star route, but they did with an eye on a system. Something our dear top down capitalists would do well to learn from.

Qatar Rondo

19’ Qatar play some rondo in the Indian box. The offside flag goes up, but before it did, Pedro and Almoez Ali had completely hoodwinked India’s central defenders. They were passing, dribbling and tricking 10 yards from goal. No result though. Keep at this lads.

Al-Haydos Test for Gurpreet

20’ Al-Haydos has a pop again from distance. Gurpreet tips it over with his fingertips. That shot came out of nowhere. The Qatari captain turns one way then another and then when he gets half a yard he has a pop from about 30 yards. The ball is dipping and curling and Gurpreet does well to keep it out. From the corner he comes out again and punches it clear.

Xavi is Watching, Al-Haydos!

22’ Again Al-Haydos has a pop. Oh wait, Xavi is in the stands. Forgive me, when the eyes see Xavi they forget everything else. Where was I? Al-Haydos has a pop. The speed of play on Qatar’s left flank is breathtaking. Al-Haydos sorts his feet out really quickly. But his accuracy is a problem.

Qatar in Control

25’ Qatar are controlling the pace of the game and holding a huge amount of the ball. Wonder what the possession stats are. Qatar have a fifth corner. And a sixth in succession.

Hatim Goes Wide Again

26’ Oh man. Abdel Hatim should have put Qatar in front. The corner is played towards the penalty spot and Nikhil Poojary, under no pressure flicks it towards the back post for some reason. Hatim is unmarked, a few yards from goal with an empty net staring at him. He really should have at least hit the target. India have escaped.

No Goal Yet

27’ It´s too early to say this and jinx it, but let's just say it. It hasn’t come together for Qatar yet. Is this going to be that kind of day? Are we taking ladoos to the airport tomorrow?

Alrawi Stretches Gurpreet

29’ Bassam Alrawi has a pop from 40 yards out. That was a shot in frustration, although Gurpreet was also moving the other way. If it was on target we may have been singing a different tune.

Poor Indian Second Touches

India are going to get very few chances, and touches up front and Udanta, Manvir and Co. have to really make the most of it. Their second touch has let them down as of now.

Yours Audacious, Adil!

30’ Adil Khan and Nikhil Poojary hassle Almoez Ali off the ball. And then Adil has the audacity to canter up 20 yards and try and release Manvir. He can’t. But it was a brave thought.

Offside Trip

32’ Almoez Ali is tripped by Abdel Karim Hassan in the India box. Hassan was offside and Almoez was clear. That was quite hilarious stuff.

Gurpreet Saves an Offside Shot

34’ OHHHHHHH! Almoez Ali plays Yusuf Abdurisag into space in the box. Abdurisag, one on one has a pop, but Gurpreet saves. The flag goes up for offside. Qatar are getting closer.

India Defend Hard

35’ Rowllin concedes a freekick 40 yards from goal on the left side. Bad foul to concede. Needless too. The ball is played to the back post, but Adil rises and clears. India are defending hard and well.

Al-Haydos Dive

37’ Al-Haydos tries to get a bit sneaky, swivels in the box and falls down. Trying to win a penalty. The referee has none of it. Bhekenbauer clears.

Corner No. 7 for Qatar

38’ After a break, Qatar have their seventh corner of the game. It's played to the second post, cleared by Sandesh and bounces to Sahal who kicks it into the night.

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