Sunil Chhetri Double in Vain, Tajikistan Beat India 4-2 in Intercontinental Cup - Highlights

62’ India are looking a bit shocked. Some socks pulling necessary boys.

It’s half time at the Women’s World Cup and apparently the Dutch goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal is putting on a masterclass against USA. It’s 0-0.

64’ In Ahmedabad, Tajikistan have a corner, and Gurpreet comes out and gathers. He waits and plays it out on the right to Bheke, who is just muscled off the ball by his opposite number. That was a bit school boy, not Bhekenbauer at all.

66’ Would be nice if the crowd didn’t go all funeral mode and instead kept the volumes up. As I type, they realise this and the noise goes up. Thanks.

67’ Sahal plays Udanta in on the right, who speeds into the box, and crosses, but it’s soft and gathered by the Tajikistan defence, before Chhetri charges and puts it out.

68’ Sahal finds Udanta again, who runs away to the right and drops a delicious cross at the top of the box towards Sahal. But his technique lets him down, and he spoons it high and wide.

69’ Maybe India needed to concede those two to wake up. They’ve started playing much better since that second goal went in. They have a corner. But it’s too much to ask for Chhetri. It was a free header, but the ball was too high, too far out.

71’ Tajikistan have scored a third!!!! India’s defence go to sleep. Tajikistan do the route 1 technique. Rahimov runs on to a long ball, Adil Khan and Narender are both caught unaware and the striker just slots it past Gurpreet. There’s an upset on the cards here. No one expected this. That Tajikistani tea at half time must’ve been strong. IND 2-3 TJK

73’ What does Stimac do now? Well. He did say the result isn’t important -- a fact the commentators also repeat as this is being typed -- but surely when you lose a 2-0 lead questions will be asked? India have switched off majorly this half and paid for it.

75’ They have a fourth!! And this is the best goal of the match! A brilliant dink/cross from the right falls to Shahrom -- who has just come on-- who volleys it in from five yards. That is a superb goal.

77’ While it is obvious that India’s defence has been dodgy this game (and in the second half mostly non existent), their midfield also must be given some blame. They have been good going up, but in their own half they have been eased off the ball physically and have tried too much with too little. Stimac needs to consider playing a defensive shield, in front of the defense. Sahal is very very good, but he needs someone behind him who does the dirty work.

78’ Bit of cramp has India’s best player on the pitch (by a country mile) coming off. Borges replaces Sahal Abdul Samad in the middle of the pitch. Let’s hope he does a little better than at the Asian Cup early in the year.

80’ Now Tajikistan drop off and let India pass the ball around as they wish. Guess what? Jerry crosses one in, Vinit Rai wins the header, Chhetri pounces on the second ball and lays it up for Borges, who unleashes a shot, but straight at the keeper. A goal there could’ve made the final ten minutes very interesting.

83’ Adil Khan goes in the book. He has had nothing like the game he had against Thailand at the King’s Cup. He has had nothing like the game he had in the first half of this one.

85’ Tajikistan have taken control of the ball again, and are pulling India’s defence wide again. India concede another corner. They play it short, before messing up the routine by one player running offside.

86’ Tajikistan almost have a fifth! Shahrom runs onto a ball into the box, cuts it back for Dzahlilov but his shot is blocked by a full stretch Jerry Lalrinzuala. That would’ve been humiliating.

88’ Sunil Chhetri off. Jobby Justin on.

90’ + 1’ There are some serious stats coming out from this game. This is the first time Gurpreet SIngh Sandhu has conceded in the Intercontinental Cup. And he has conceded four. This is the first time India will end up losing a game in which Chhetri has more than one goal. This is the first time India have conceded four in a game since they lost to Iran in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2016.

90’ + 2’ Jerry, Jobby and Borges try and play in from their left, but have messed it up. The referee blows the whistle. Tajikistan showed India up in the second half and take the win. That is what is called a game of two halves.

FT ⚽️ India ?? go down against Tajikistan ??. ?? 2-4 ?? #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #BlueTigers #INDTJK #HeroIC ? pic.twitter.com/H2PjVSLLhW

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 7, 2019