New Delhi: Defending champions India made a disappointing start to their SAFF Cup campaign, being held to a 1-1 draw by Afghanistan, the second lowest-ranked team in the competition, in their opening match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday.
India coach Savio Medeira had warned before the match that Afghanistan could not be taken lightly. Within five minutes of the start, his words rang true as Balal Arezo gave the visitors a shock lead. India responded with a Sunil Chettri header five minutes later, but that was as good as it got for Medeira, for whom this is the first tournament as India's national coach.
The last time these two teams met was in the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008, when India scraped through 2-1, thanks to a stoppage-time strike by Climax Lawrence. There was to be no late equaliser this time though, as a lacklustre India were outplayed by a fitter Afghanistan side.
Afghanistan gave a sign of things to come within minutes of kick-off, Balal Arezo picking up a loose ball from Mahesh Gawli before slotting home from inside the box to stun the hosts and the sparse crowd supporting them.
The lead did not last long, however, as Chettri shook off any exertions from his trip to Scotland to jump highest and head in at the near post from a Steven Dias corner. Chettri and fellow striker Jeje Lalpekhula had trials with Scottish giants Rangers last week, and only arrived back in Delhi on Friday.
Once the scores were level, it would have been expected that India, ranked 16 places above their 178th-ranked opponents, would dominate the game. However, perhaps tired after their exertions in the 5-0 friendly defeat to Zambia in mid-week, the Indian midfield struggled to get the crosses through for Chettri and Jeje, who were often forced to chase back for the ball.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, provided plenty of cause for concern. In the 16th minute, Mohammad Esrafil's long cross found Mohammad Yousef Mashriqi, but the US-based midfielder shot straight at Karanjit Singh.
The Indian goalkeeper then came to his side's rescue again as the impressive Arezo nearly put Afghanistan in front again. Skipper Haroon Fakhrudin went past at least four blue shirts to find Arezo, but the striker, who plays for Norwegian outfit Asker, took too long to get a shot away and the ball was pushed out by Karanjit for a corner.
India themselves had a string of corners in the first half, but the hosts lacked the cutting edge and failed to make the most of them. Chhetri cut a frustrated figure as Dias failed to find the Mohun Bagan striker on at least a couple of occasions. One cross from the Churchill midfielder did reach Clifford Miranda, but the opportunity was wasted as his effort went over the bar. Miranda was guilty again at the half-hour mark, failing to beat Afghanistan goalkeeper Hameedullah Yousufzari after being put through on goal by skipper Lawrence.
Azezo, meanwhile, continued to trouble the Indian defence and Karanjit saved at the striker's feet on the stroke of half-time before he could get at the end of Haroon Fakhrudin's pass.
The second half began with India appealing for a handball off Moqadar Faizullah, but the referee was least interested.
The title-holders nearly had their goal in the 56th minute though, but Chettri was unable to find the target from close range after a beautiful pass from Lawrence. Then Miranda could not control a lob from Chettri, allowing Moqadar Faizullah to clear.
By now the Indian team was starting to tire and Afghanistan defended stoutly, while threatening briefly on the counter-attack. As the clock began to run down, an expected Indian charge to find the winner never materialised, and instead it was Afghanistan who came close to taking all three points.
Afghanistan have never beaten India in three previous attempts, but Sanjar Ahmadi nearly changed that in the first minute of added time, Karanjit parrying his shot just minutes after closing down Masaiullah Ibrahim in the penalty area.
India's last chance also came towards the end, but Jeje's shot was well saved as the inconsistent hosts were found wanting in the face of a spirited challenge from Afghanistan.
Having failed to win what could have been considered one of their easiest matches in Group B, India will need to put in a much improved performance to ensure they make it to the semi-finals. Their next two opponents in Group B – Sri Lanka and Bhutan – won't make it any easier, and India will similarly have to up their game if the five-time champions are to have any hopes of defending their title.
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