Dushanbe, Sep 1: India’s promising start under new head coach Khalid Jamil hit a roadblock on Sunday as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat against Iran in the CAFA Nations Cup.
The result not only underlined the gulf in class between India and Asia’s top teams but also left Jamil’s side with plenty to ponder ahead of their next fixture against Afghanistan.
Coming off a spirited 2-1 victory over Tajikistan, India entered the contest with renewed confidence. But against Iran, ranked 20th in the world compared to India’s 133, the reality was laid bare. At the nearly empty Isor Central Stadium, Iran seized control from the very first whistle, forcing goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into action with three corners inside the opening 10 minutes. Mohammad Amin Hazbavi’s bursts of pace and Omid Noorafkan’s pinpoint deliveries kept India’s defensive duo of Sandesh Jhingan and Anwar Ali under constant pressure.
India struggled to move beyond a defensive shell, relying largely on deep defending and quick counters.
Aashique Kuruniyan tried to inject energy down the left flank, while Rahul Bheke made runs on the right, but the attacks fizzled out in the final third.
Misplaced passes and lack of precision meant that Iran rarely looked troubled.
The breakthrough finally came in the 59th minute. A neat through ball from Mehdi Zadegan caught India’s backline napping.
Bheke’s failed interception allowed Amirhossein to finish clinically past Gurpreet, handing Iran a deserved lead. Jamil’s halftime substitutions — Jeakson Singh and Chinglensana Singh replacing Suresh Singh and Danish Farooq — had already unsettled India’s midfield rhythm, and the team struggled to recover composure.
As India pushed forward in search of an equaliser, the lack of creativity became apparent. Jithin MS misplaced key passes, while Uvais overhit promising crosses, leaving Iran with space to exploit.
Fatigue soon crept in, and the punishment was swift. In the 89th minute, Mehdi Taremi drew India’s defenders before setting up Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
Though Gurpreet saved the initial shot, the rebound fell kindly for Ali Aliporghara, who smashed home to make it 2-0.
The contest was effectively over, but Iran weren’t done yet. Deep into injury time, Jahanbakhsh again found space to thread a clever pass into the box. Taremi, the Olympiakos striker fresh from his move from Inter Milan, ghosted past a weary Indian defence and finished with composure to seal a dominant 3-0 win.
The defeat now places India in a must-respond situation before their September 4 clash against Afghanistan. That fixture carries added weight, not only as a chance to bounce back in the tournament but also as an opportunity to avenge the 2-1 defeat inflicted by Afghanistan during the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers earlier this year.
For Khalid Jamil and his men, the result served as a sobering reminder of the work that lies ahead if India are to compete consistently with Asia’s elite.
The setback against Iran may sting, but it also offers India a timely reality check. With little turnaround time before facing Afghanistan, Jamil’s men must regroup quickly, sharpen their decision-making in the final third, and show greater composure under pressure. (Agencies)
