New Delhi: India defeated higher-ranked Tajikistan 2-1 in their opening match of the CAFA Nations Cup football tournament on Friday, August 29. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu delivered a strong performance with a series of sensational saves, including a spot-kick, as the Blue Tigers started a new era under coach Khalid Jamil.

Defender Anwar Ali opened the scoring in the fifth minute of the match, and Sandesh Jhingan also netted in the 13th minute. The visitors defended brilliantly against Tajikistan for the remaining 75 minutes.

Jamil couldn’t have asked for a better start in his first match as head coach, and the credit should go to captain Gurpreet, who was sidelined by former coach Manolo Marquez but returned to the starting XI against Tajikistan.

Lack of quality in the frontline is still a huge problem for India, but the Blue Tigers ended their scoring drought in the first 15 minutes that had stretched to three international matches.

Anwar registered his name on the scoresheet in the fifth minute of the game, netting with a header after Uvais launched a long throw-in from the left flank. The Tajik defender, who attempted a goal-line clearance, saw his kick rebound inside his own goal after hitting another player. The referee, however, awarded the goal to Anwar.

Team India’s lead was doubled in the 13th minute when Anwar failed to control the ball with his first touch, and went towards wide right to send a left-footed swerving cross, which Bheke headed. Goalkeeper Muhriddin Hasanov barely got a touch on the ball, and Jhingan, who was lurking close, quickly scored off the rebound.

After taking a 2-0 lead, Jamil’s men conceded a goal in the 23rd minute as the hosts got a chance to make a comeback in the match. Sheriddin Boboev freed Shahrom Samiev, who used his pace and strength to beat Jhingan and then calmly converted it past Gurpreet to make the score 2-1. India’s central midfield was nearly non-existent during the period, as both Suresh Singh and Lallianzuala Chhangte failed to make any impact.

Gurpreet’s heroic goalkeeping performance in the second half helped India secure the win

The hosts started the second half brilliantly as they kept Gurpreet busy with some goal-bound attempts, which he managed to keep away. Khalid made three changes in the second half with East Bengal’s Naorem Mahesh Singh as an attacking wing half, Nikhil Prabhu as a defensive screen, and Danish Farooq to complement him.

However, Tajikistan’s high-line style of play also left very little space and Indian forwards Vikram Partap Singh and Irfan Yadawad spent most of the match as mere spectators. The central midfield also failed to supply them with enough balls and focused more on keeping the Tajik attackers at bay.

The hosts earned a penalty when Vikram Pratap put a hand on the Tajikistan striker Rustam Soirov’s shoulder, and he fell inside the box. But Gurpreet dived to his right and his long legs kept out Soirov’s spot-kick.

Naorem Mahesh’s powerful left-footed strike in the 85th minute of the match on a counter-attack was denied by Hasanov. Towards the end, Gurpreet made another brilliant save, his fifth of the second half as the Blue Tigers emerged victorious.