India missed the possibilities that got here their solution to accept a goalless draw with Lebanon within the Intercontinental Cup soccer event right here on Thursday. Persevering with together with his coverage to make healthful modifications to his beginning XI, head coach Igor Stimac benched quite a few seniors together with striker Sunil Chhetri and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Defensive linchpin Sandesh Jhingan wore the captain’s armband in Chhetri’s absence. The end result, nonetheless, didn’t matter as each groups had already sealed their locations within the remaining of the four-nation event. Mongolia and Vanuatu have been the 2 different groups collaborating within the occasion.
Launched within the 82nd minute, Chhetri obtained an ideal supply from Anirudh Thapa however the India captain couldn’t discover the again of the web.
It could have been 1-0 India throughout the first 5 minutes of the sport however, after being arrange by Lallianzuala Chhangte and with simply the opposition goalkeeper to beat, Anirudh Thapa missed a sitter within the fourth minute. All he may do was shoot the ball away.
Then, virtually 20 minutes into the match, one other likelihood was wasted as Ashique Kuruniyan hit the ball straight to the Lebanese goalkeeper after a very good ball contained in the field.
The 2 missed probabilities from India meant the groups went into the half-time break goalless.
It just about continued in the identical means within the second half, which additionally noticed the floodlights going off for a few minutes, as each groups didn’t failed to search out the goal.
Hoping to interrupt the impasse, each India and Lebanon rang in a couple of modifications, however to no avail because the rating remained unchanged until the ultimate whistle.
India had kicked off their marketing campaign with a 2-0 win over Mongolia final Friday earlier than beating Vanuatu 1-0 three days in a while Monday.
Lebanon too had began with a victory, beating Vanuatu 3-1 earlier than enjoying out a goalless draw towards Mongolia on Monday.
Regardless of the goalless draw, Stimac stated he was pleased with the way in which issues went.
“Very pleased with the boys’ efficiency. We knew we might be examined a few occasions, and that is precisely what occurred. While you play towards better-quality opponents, that can occur.
“One other clear sheet, sufficient probabilities to win large, and in the long run, I am simply sorry for the boys, it did not occur. Subsequent time, we are going to certainly win in three days’ time,” he stated.
The tempo of the sport was largely managed by India, however Lebanon seemed threatening on the counter. Within the tenth minute, captain Hassan Maatouk swerved close to the sting of the field earlier than lashing a strong strike over the bar.
On one other such break ahead, Karim Darwich had a transparent sight of objective however Jhingan put his physique on the road simply because the Lebanese participant pulled the set off.
Jhingan, who was adjudged the Participant of the Match, stated, “As a centre-back, a clear sheet means rather a lot to you. As a group, should you can hold a clear sheet, it builds the momentum for the aspect. Credit score to the group and training workers, we work laborious, create probabilities, and the sky is the restrict for us.”
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