India can bemoan what could have been a famous win. But contentious goals do happen in football and captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stopped playing even though the ball was still in play according to the referees. It wasn’t just him but most of India’s defensive line that switched off – and Qatar did not.
What should have been a corner, became a goal, and neither the referee nor the linesman had any of the answers that the horde of Indian players surrounding them were asking. That Qatar goal, one that should have been not allowed but was somehow accepted in a VAR-void World Cup qualifier tie, broke down a resolute Indian second-half defensive performance and cancelled out Lallianzuala Chhangte’s first-half goal. Qatar then scored twelve minutes later to take the lead to knock the Indians out of the World Cup qualifiers in the second round.
Yes, India was shortchanged in Doha. But this is also a side that chooses to up their game against a second-string team of the Asian champions in their home, but can only conjure a draw and a home loss to Afghanistan and a home draw to Kuwait after a month-long camp. They may have been knocked out today from the World Cup qualifiers, but then they have only themselves to blame for being in this situation in the first place.
It's not just a goal. It's the war cry of a billion Indians 💙 🇮🇳 Lallianzuala Chhangte, you beauty! #QATIND #IndianFootball pic.twitter.
com/DJPmwqJrS7 — FanCode (@FanCode) June 11, 2024 All eleven Qatar .
