In a hard-fought match, India faced a tough 0-3 defeat against the formidable Asian champions, Qatar, in their second match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup second round qualifiers. The contest, held at the Kalinga Stadium, showcased Qatar's dominance throughout the 90 minutes.
Qatar managed to secure three goals, courtesy of Moustafa Tarek Mashal (4th minute), Almeoz Ali (47th), and Yusuf Adurisag (86th). Despite their gritty performance, India struggled to create scoring opportunities, with only a couple of chances materializing towards the end of the first half.
The Indian team, under the guidance of coach Igor Stimac, still has a chance to finish second in Group A and qualify for the third round, following their earlier 1-0 victory over Kuwait on November 16.
The match exposed India's defensive vulnerabilities early on, as Qatar capitalized on a corner kick in the fourth minute, with Moustafa Tarek Mashal finding the back of the net. India's goalkeeper Amrinder Singh, replacing Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, had no chance to stop the shot.
Qatar's Akram Afif missed several opportunities in the first half, allowing India to enter halftime with only a one-goal deficit. India attempted to counterattack and had a couple of promising moments, but they failed to convert their chances.
As the first half neared its conclusion, Anirudh Thapa missed a clear opportunity to level the score, and India's hopes dwindled. Qatar quickly extended their lead in the second half, with prolific striker Almeoz Ali finding the net in the 47th minute.
Despite some late efforts by India, including a chance for Sahal Abdul Samad, Qatar sealed the match with Yusuf Adurisag's header in the 86th minute.
India's next 2026 World Cup qualifiers match is against Afghanistan, scheduled to take place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on March 21 next year.
(Inputs from PTI, Powered by AI)
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