The Indian Men’s Football Team played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Tajikistan in the second international friendly at Hisor Central Stadium on Tuesday.
Coming into the match, India were looking to bounce back after suffering a 3-1 defeat in the first friendly against Tajikistan. The result was seen as a challenging test for the Blue Tigers against a side ranked significantly higher in the FIFA rankings, with Tajikistan placed 103rd in the world compared to India’s 137th position.
India took the lead in the 25′ through Vikram Partap Singh, who finished off a swift attacking move to put the Blue Tigers ahead. Despite Tajikistan dominating possession for large spells of the first half, India remained dangerous on the counterattack and created several promising opportunities in transition.
The hosts continued to press after the break and eventually found an equalizer in the 83′ when Sheriddin Boboev converted from the penalty spot, ensuring the match ended level at 1-1.
Notably, at the same venue last year, India had registered a memorable 2-1 victory over Tajikistan during the CAFA Nations Cup, securing their first win over the Central Asian nation in 17 years.
India’s starting XI:
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Farukh Choudhary, Pramveer, Bijoy Varghese, Nikhil Barla, Mohammed Sanan, Ricky Shabong, Vikram Pratap Singh, Rahim Ali
Picture Courtesy: AIFF Media
