Dubai: The Indian soccer workforce made a high quality comeback in the second half to hold fancied Oman 1-1 in its first international match in greater than a 12 months although the Gulf facet dominated the pleasant in Dubai on Thursday.
India conceded a objective in the forty second minute with Chinglensana Singh’s clearance crossing the goal-line after hitting goalkeeper Amrinder Singh who began the match as an alternative of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Manvir Singh scored the equaliser in the fifty fifth minute to assist India pull off a uncommon draw in opposition to Oman in the first international outing after the COVID-19 lockdown.
India head coach Igor Stimac gave debuts to as many 10 gamers. He had mentioned earlier than the match that he would give possibilities to most variety of gamers for them to realize the expertise of enjoying in large matches.
The first half was all about Oman attacking in waves with India not getting a single shot on the right track. Oman, who’ve received each the two-legged matches of the 2022 World Cup qualifying in opposition to India, performed a excessive defensive position with extra males on assault. India had been content material defending their citadel with extra gamers in their very own half and only one man upfront more often than not. The Indians misplaced possession too simply on most events as Oman didn’t allow them to hold on to the ball for lengthy.
Oman squandered a penalty in the twenty seventh minute after Rowlin Borges dedicated a foul on Abdul Aziz Al Gheilani contained in the field. Aziz himself took the spot kick however shot straight to Amarinder Singh. But Oman had been to not be denied a objective in the first half. Al Aghbari acquired the ball on the left wing and despatched a low cross on the face of the objective. Amrinder couldn’t gather the ball cleanly and it hit Chinglensana Singh and went previous the objective line.
Stimac made two adjustments at the beginning of second session with Lalengmawia and Raynier Fernandes changing Jeakson Singh and Rowllin Borges.
The Indians dished out a a lot improved present in the second half, holding the ball much more than the first 45 minutes and enjoying a extra attacking recreation.
India equalised 5 minutes earlier than the hour mark. Bipin Singh despatched in a scrumptious cross from the fitting flank which was headed dwelling by Manvir. Oman, ranked 81st as in comparison with India’s 104th in the FIFA charts, then pressed onerous for the successful objective however Amrinder was spectacular behind the bar as he made two high quality saves in the 63rd and sixty fifth minutes.
India play their second international pleasant in opposition to the UAE on Monday. The friendiles are part of preparations for the joint qualifying spherical matches of the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup to be performed in June.
