2012 AFC Challenge Cup: India lose opener against Tajikistan

India lost their opening 2012 AFC Challenge Cup match 0-2 against Tajikistan at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal. From now on reaching the semifinals will be an uphill task as India would most likely have to win both their remaining fixtures to get through.

Tajikistan had a better start into the game with the central Asians putting India initially under some pressure as India needed time to settle down. But after the quarter hour mark India got a few half chances with first Sunil Chhetri giving it a try but his attempt went way wide, then came Rocus Lamare's effort from outside the box but it was easily collected by the Tajik goalkeeper and then on a counter-attack Sunil Chhetri found Anthony Pereira free on the right but he blasted high-and-wide.

Thereafter the match was mainly confined to the midfield with both sides looking for possession as both sets of defenders stood their ground and the strikers were unable to penetrate. India had more of the ball, but the Tajiks looked more dangerous whenever they attacked. The first session ended goalless.

After the break a similar picture before the Tajiks once more started to press harder and on the hour mark they went ahead through Akhtam Khamrakulov as India could not clear inside the box. Only six minutes later striker Nuriddin Davranov made it 2-0 for Tajikistan with a nice placed shot from outside the box beating the outstretched hands of Karanjit Singh following a corner.

India were shocked after conceding the two quick goals and for the remainder of the match the Tajiks looked more capable of scoring a third then India reducing the deficit. The team simply had no real firepower upfront to cause danger to the Tajik goal. It ended 2-0 for Tajikistan.


MATCH STATS

India 0-2 (0-0) Tajikistan - Goals: 0-1 Akhtam Khamrakulov (60'), 0-2 Nuriddin Davranov (65')

INDIA
1-Karanjit Singh, 16-Samir Naik, 19-Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, 3-Raju Eknath Gaikwad, 22-Syed Rahim Nabi; 12-Anthony Pereira (68' 28-Jewel Raja Sheikh), 21-Rocus Lamare, 17-Adil Ahmed Khan, 26-Francis Fernandes; 18-Sushil Kumar Singh (81' 9-Joaquim Santan Abranches), 11-Sunil Chhetri [C]

TAJIKISTAN
1-Alisher Tuysher; 44-Alexey Negmatov, 4-Eraj Rajabov, 6-Davronjon Ergashev, 3-Sohib Savankulov; 11-Farkhod Tokhirov (79' 34-Ilhomzhon Ortikov), 10-Dzhakhongir Dzhalilov, 8-Sakhmadali Adykov, 18-Fatkhulo Fatkhulloev (86' 17-Dilshod Vasiev); 13-Akhtam Khamrakulov (70' 22-Yusuf Rabiev), 9-Nuriddin Davranov