An inexperienced Indian football side gave a good fight before going down 1-2 against Oman in the home leg match of the 2018 World Cup Preliminary Qualification round here on Thursday.
Oman, ranked 40 places above India in the FIFA chart at 101, scored through Qasim Said (first minute) and Imad Al Hosani (40th, penalty) while Sunil Chhetri was on target for India with a superb goal in the 26th minute.
The 19,000-crowd at the Kanteerava Stadium thought that India had equalised in the 69th minute but to their dismay, the linesman ruled that Robin was offside.
C K Vineeth essayed a cross from the right towards Oman’s goal and defender Sallam Amur flicked the ball into his own net but the linesman thought that Robin was in an offside position before that.
India coach Stephen Constantine gave debut to four players, including three in the back four, and the inexperience showed as the home side were on the back foot from the beginning by conceding a goal in the first minute. Then, a debutant Dhanachandra Singh went for a reckless challenge on an Oman attacker to concede the decisive penalty.
The fancied Oman dominated the match throughout with several shots at the Indian goal while the home side had just a couple of goal-bound attempts.
It did not take long for Oman to take the lead as Qasim Said put them ahead in less than 30 seconds into the match from the first goal-bound attack.
India’s chances were few with higher-ranked Oman dominating the proceedings early on. But, star striker Chhetri brought India back into the match with a superb goal in the 26th minute.
Chhetri, who had an indifferent I-league season with just two goals, latched on to a weak clearance from an Oman defender and unleashed a left footer from the top of the box which swerved and struck the post before hitting the net.
India, however, conceded the lead to Oman in the 40th minute with Dhanachandra going for a reckless challenge on Eid Mohammed inside the box and the referee pointed to the dreaded spot.
Al Hosani stepped up to send the ball to the wrong side of Paul in his second attempt after the referee ordered re-take.
Second half didn’t produce any goals with Oman doing most of the attack. India had the best chance for an equaliser in added time but Chhetri fell inside the box after a challenge from Al Mukhaini. The Indian striker thought that it was a penalty but the referee was not interested.
Chhetri later rued conceding an early goal and giving away a penalty.
Constantine rues decisions
Constantine stopped short of criticising the referee but made his point that there were some “strange decisions”.
Asked about the disallowed goal at the post-match press conference, Constantine said, “I am not sure how the goal was disallowed.
I turned around and told the players at the bench that it was a goal. It was a goal and obviously to my horror I see at the corner (linesman) raising his flag.”
“There were few other decisions which the referee should be asked about them. Certainly some strange decisions. But I am not blaming the referee. We did not do enough in the match,” he added.