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An inspired Afghanistan came from behind to beat India 2-1 in Group A of Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Tuesday, March 26.
Trailing to a Sunil Chhetri penalty at the interval, Afghanistan drew level through Rahmat Akbari in the 70th minute, with Sharif Mukhammad converting from the spot in the 88th minute for Afghanistan to take the win and draw level with India on four points.
India tried to seize the initiative early, and should have taken the lead in the third minute when a well-orchestrated attack saw Brandon finding Chhetri in the box but even as he beat his marker with his deft turn, his left footed shot bounced off the post with the rebound falling to Manvir Singh who failed to find the target despite a gaping goalmouth.
That did not deter Afghanistan, and they hit back with three back-to-back corners in the seventh minute – the first of which required an agile Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu stretch to his full to prevent a Zohib Amiri header bulging the net.
Play was, thereafter, confined mostly to the midfield with both sides pressing for the opening goal. The vociferous home support eventually inspired India to surge into the lead in the 38th minute.
Desperate to keep Chhetri pouncing on Manvir Singh’s cross from the right, Amiri was found guilty of handling the ball inside the box.
Off the resultant penalty, Chhetri, playing his 150th international match, converted from the spot – sending the ball to the right of a diving Afghan goalkeeper Ovays Azizi for his 94th international goal.
India could have added their second in the 44th minute but Liston Colaco, fed clear by Brandon Fernandes, was let down by his heavy first touch allowing the rival defence to recover.
Today is a new low for #IndianFootball.#India lose 1-2 to a weakened #Afghanistan.#Stimac has to go, enough is enough…
And each player has to question himself, if he has given enough for the shirt.
— Arunava Chaudhuri | arunfoot (@Arunfoot) March 26, 2024
The duo of Rahmat Akbari and Taufee Skandari did create some problems for India down the left in the second half, and in an effort to add more thrust Afghanistan head coach Ashley Westwood introduced Fareed Sadat in place of Omid Popalzy in the 65th minute.
India head coach Igor Stimac also made three substitutions three minutes later – Lallainzuala Chhangte replacing Chhetri, Anirudh Thapa coming in for Fernandes, while Liston Colaco made way for Mahesh Singh.
Afghanistan restored parity in the 70th minute. Managing to find space behind the Indian high line of defence, Mosawer Ahadi cut inside only for his shot to be blocked but the rebound fell to Akbari whose effort squeezed between Rahul Bheke’s legs for the equaliser.
Afghanistan preferred to push the pedal a bit further, and in the 76th minute, an acrobatic Gurpreet dived to his left to palm off Skandari’s curler.
Gurpreet, a tower of composure till then, however, was guilty of giving away a penalty when he fouled substitute Sadat on the edge of the box. An ice-cool Mkuhammad sent the keeper the wrong way in the 88th minute for Afghanistan to take the points.
