Under the guidance of newly appointed coach Khalid Jamil, the Indian national football team commenced their CAFA Nations Cup campaign with a thrilling 2-1 victory against Tajikistan. The match, held on Friday, saw Gurpreet Singh Sandhu emerge as the hero, thanks to a stunning penalty save that secured India's win.
India started strong, with Anwar Ali scoring in the 5th minute and Sandesh Jhingan following up with another goal in the 13th minute, giving the Blue Tigers an early 2-0 lead. Tajikistan responded in the 23rd minute when Shahrom Samiev found the net, narrowing the score gap. Despite relentless attacks from the hosts, India's defense held firm.
The game's turning point arrived in the second half when Tajikistan was awarded a penalty in the 73rd minute after Vikram Partap was judged to have fouled Rustam Soirov. Soirov stepped up to take the penalty, but Gurpreet Singh Sandhu showcased his brilliance by diving to his right and saving the shot with his legs. This crucial save not only denied Tajikistan an equalizer but also secured India's first away win in nearly two years.
Jhingan acknowledged the significance of the victory for the Indian fans, who had been waiting for such a result for a long time. He admitted that the team defended deeply at times and still needed to iron out some rustiness, but emphasized the importance of building on this win and displaying more character in the upcoming match against Iran.
The match also marked Gurpreet Singh Sandhu's return to the starting XI, after being sidelined by former head coach Manolo Marquez. His performance proved vital in India's victory, reaffirming his status as a key player for the national team. While India's attacking play still needs improvement, the defense, led by Jhingan and Ali, displayed exceptional form, contributing goals as well. The lateral backs, Rahul Bheke and Uvais Moyikkal, also put in impressive performances.
Despite some areas needing improvement, such as the central midfield's impact, India's win was a significant morale booster for the team and the fans. This victory was India's first against Tajikistan in 17 years and their first win in any competition since March. It also marked a successful start to Khalid Jamil's tenure as the head coach.
