Defending champions India were held to a 1-1 draw by minnows Afghanistan in their opening Group A match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi; while Sri Lanka won in the other Group B 3-0 against Bhutan. It leaves India under pressure of getting wins in the remainder of the group phase.Afghanistan made an attacking start into the game putting India under pressure from the first whistle and in the 5th minute they went ahead through a Balal Arezo goal. India regrouped and only six minutes later Sunil Chhetri headed in a Steven Dias corner to level matters. Thereafter, India did get their act together putting the Afghan defence under immense pressure but with no result. Upfront, Jeje played the perfect partner for Chhetri, while Steven Dias and Clifford Miranda did float some dangerous crosses into the box. But the Afghans had their chances too as rival captain Haroon Fakhruddin, who plays for Mumbai FC in the I-League, and Mohammad Esrafil combined well to split open the Indian defence towards the fag end of the first half but failed to finish it off.
After the break India had more chances to go ahead. Twice, Chhetri and Jeje, both looking jadded from their trials with Glasgow Rangers failed to put it in from close range. The Indians pressed on from the left wing but the Afghans managed to hold fort. India Coach Savio Medeira did introduce Anthony Pereira and Lalrindika Ralte as replacements for Steven Dias and Clifford Miranda but even as the lights at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium came on, it failed to light up India's fortunes on the night. In the end India were lucky to take home a point as Karanjit Singh kept off Yousef Mashriqi's rasper in injury time, otherwise the day would have ended on a blank note for India.
INDIA
1-Karanjit Singh; 16-Samir Naik, 14-Mahesh Gawli, 19-Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, 22-Syed Rahim Nabi; 23-Steven Benedic Dias (67' ??-Anthony Pereira), 8-Climax Lawrence [C], 2?-Rocus Lamare, 15-Clifford Miranda (88' 20-Lalrindika Ralte); 10-Jeje Lalpekhlua, 11-Sunil Chhetri
