FIFA World Cup Qualifier: Sunil Chhetri's goal in vain as India suffer 1-2 defeat to Afghanistan in Guwahati

India’s hopes of making the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers further diminished after they went down to Afghanistan 2-1 in their second round Group A clash in Guwahati on Tuesday. Sunil Chhetri scored the opening goal for India after he converted a penalty in the 38^th minute. Chhetri was playing his 150^th international match and India would have been the happier side heading to the half-time break, but Afghanistan just could not be written off at any moment.

In the 70^th minute, Afghanistan equalised on the back of Rahmat Akbari, who attempted a shot from outside the box. And in the 88^th minute, Afghanistan won a penalty, after Gurpreet attempted to stop one of Afghanistan’s forwards but ended up fouling him and Gurpreet received a yellow as a result. Mukhammad took the penalty and converted it with just minutes to go to make it 2-1 for Afghanistan.

More from Football News

As it happened: India vs Afghanistan football match 

India have two more matches in hand. While defeating Asian champions Qatar in the away match would be a difficult task, it may finally boil down to India’s hope match against Kuwait on June 6, 2024. But Afghanistan can definitely aspire to overtake India in the points table.

India's Jeakson Singh in action during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match against Afghanistan. Image: AIFF

India, who drew the away match against Afghanistan goalless in Saudi Arabia, desperately needed full points from this encounter to keep alive their hopes of a long and arduous journey to the third round. But like it was in Abha, Saudi Arabia, the Indians did everything to stretch the rival defence time and again but fell short of converting them into goals. They did create a few chances, including a second-minute shot by Chhetri that hit the post before Manvir blew it over the bar, but faltered at crucial moments in the second half to leave the turf empty-handed.

India took the lead in the 38^th minute. Haroon Amiri, the captain and towering figure in the Afghanistan defence, made the cardinal mistake of handling the ball inside the box as he found the inviting cross from the right by Manvir Singh, added with a fast-approaching Sunil Chhetri, hard to negotiate with and the Saudi Arabian referee pointed to the spot without hesitation.

As the packed stands waited with bated breath, Chhetri stepped in to slam the ball into the right of the goalkeeper Ovays Azizi, with a low but confident shot. He seemed unaffected by the riotous celebrations in the stadium and the sheer delight displayed by his teammates and he walked back to his position calmly.

It was Chhetri’s 94^th international goal and the first after a seven-match drought. He now holds the unique record of scoring at least one goal in his first, 25^th, 50^th, 75^th, 100th, and 125^th matches. But in the end, this unique achievement took the back seat as India surrendered all the points on the pitch.

India: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Subhasish Bose, Jeakson Singh (Vikram Partap Singh 85’), Nikhil Poojary, Manvir Singh, Brandon Fernandes (Anirudh Thapa 68’), Lalengmawia Ratle, Liston Colaco (Mahesh Singh Naorem 68’), Sunil Chhetri (Lallianzuala Chhangte 68’).