2022 World Cup Qualifiers: India share points with Afghanistan, marches into 3rd round of qualifiers for AFC Asian Cup China 2023
Xtra Time Web Desk: India were held to a 1-1 draw by Afghanistan in their last match of Group E of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Joint Qualifier, at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. With this result, India finish third place in the standings with seven points from eight matches.
India took the lead in the 75th-minute courtesy an own goal by Afghanistan goalkeeper Ovays Azizi. But the Afghans pulled back their equalizer minutes later, through their teenage sensation Hossein Zamani. A third-place finish in Group E means that India move directly to the third round of qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023.
The Blue Tigers end their campaign in 2022 World Cup Qualifiers with four draws, three losses and one win from their eight matches. They have scored six goals and conceded only seven.
Igor Stimac’s boys raised high hopes by drawing against Asian champions Qatar at home after losing 1-2 in their opening encounter against Oman. But the draws against both Afghanistan and Bangladesh and a 0-1 loss to Oman ended their hopes of qualification.
In the last three rounds, they lost to Qatar 0-1 before winning against Bangladesh 2-0. They ended their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Afghanistan.
