All it took was three minutes for Uzbekistan to take a pinprick and burst the balloon beneath which Indian soccer was working going into this conflict. There was an assumption that the hardest workforce of their group was effectively behind them and that it was now time to play soccer sans concern. As an alternative, India obtained an Uzbekistan workforce that’s simply one of many prime 6 groups in Asia, fairly markedly higher than Australia, and one which scored three targets within the first half itself to quell any hopes that the Southeast Asians had of creating this a struggle.
And that struggle disappeared from India somewhat shortly – a gradual looping ball into the sting of the Indian field was not cleared because it ought to have, a mere three minutes into the sport. And even when it wasn’t cleared, Sandesh Jhingan was caught staring on the path of the ball inside his field whereas Abbosbek Fayzullaev looped a header over goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu for Uzbekistan’s first purpose. Three minutes in and India have been already behind.
Whereas it was clear that the Indians have been taking their time warming up, it was additionally fairly evident that even the best-suited workforce was going to be no match for the Uzbeks. It wasn’t that they have been a unprecedented workforce, however somewhat one which fulfilled their fundamentals soundly. Not as soon as did Uzbekistan should take their legs out of second gear, such was their dominance towards the Indians.
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0️⃣ – 3️⃣#AsianCup2023 #HayyaAsia pic.twitter.com/Z6c0eQu0tL— AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 (@Qatar2023en) January 18, 2024
Within the 18th minute, they doubled their benefit, as soon as once more extra partly as a result of Indian errors somewhat than Uzbek ingenuity. Defender Rahul Bheke, with nobody apart from Gurpreet Singh Sandhu behind him and acres of area, determined to try to dribble the ball between two Uzbek forwards. The transfer was hopeful and hope was extinguished somewhat abruptly. It was Fayzullaev but once more, who acquired the ball with area to run into, a activity he carried out dutifully. His resultant low cutback didn’t discover anybody however left-back Akash Mishra’s clearance hit the put up and landed flush within the path of Igor Sergeev, who discovered himself with no Indian midfielder monitoring him again and the best of worldwide targets he would ever come upon.
After that second purpose, India tried to make some injury limiting strikes, like passing inside their defence and never letting the ball previous the midfield. On the odd event that occurred, they have been despatched scurrying again by wave upon wave of Uzbek gamers who stored ready for a reply or two to come back their approach when none would ever arrive.
And proper because the half was about to come back to a detailed, a 3rd purpose got here. It was a routine Farrukh Sayfiev cross – one that the majority groups would have cleared with ease. However as an alternative India have been caught napping once more, this time Nikhil Poojary not marking his man appropriately and paying the value for it as Sherzod Nasrullaev pounced on the ball. His first connection hit the put up however then the rebound fell kindly to him and the tap-in was one more straightforward worldwide purpose handed to the Uzbek left-back.
The second half noticed India attempt to proceed doing what that they had after the second purpose had gone in. Extra swathes of possession with little to supply going forwards. The introduction of winger Rahul KP would instantly see a shot hit the crossbar for the Indians. Skipper Sunil Chhetri obtained a few golden alternatives however did not even direct the ball goalwards. Mahesh Naorem had an exquisite strike dart via a maze of Uzbek gamers earlier than safely being collected by their custodian Utkir Yusupov. However apart from these measly alternatives, India watched and succumbed to their second successive defeat of the Asian Cup 2023.
They subsequent face Syria with an out of doors likelihood of qualifying for the Spherical of 16. It will require a win and a bunch of outcomes to go of their favour – an act of luck and kindness that merely doesn’t monitor with the nationwide workforce.