Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangalore: A solitary Robin Singh goal proved the difference as India secured a battling 1-0 win over Guam to seal their first Group D win of their FIFA World Cup 2018/AFC Asian Cup 2019 joint-qualifying campaign.
The South Asians survived the first half dismissal of Sehnaj Singh to grab the victory which nevertheless leaves them rooted to the foot of the table, some four points behind fourth placed Guam.
India, who had lost 2-1 to Guam in June, started brightly at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium and broke the deadlock on 10 minutes courtesy of Robin Singh’s fine finish into the far corner of Guam goalkeeper Douglas Herrick’s goal.
However, Indian hopes were dealt a potential blow on 43 minutes when Sehnaj Singh was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Guam midfielder Justin David.
Perhaps buoyed by the sending off, Guam regrouped after the break and Mason Grimes tested Indian custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu with a firm header from a Shawn Nicklaw corner.
Sunil Chhetri could, and very possibly should, have doubled the host nation’s advantage when through on goal, but the striker was denied by an advancing Herrick.
Gurpreet then reacted smartly to turn away Brandon Marquee’s effort from distance, before Chhetri twice went close to extending India’s advantage in the game’s final moments.
The group winners and four best runners-up (total 12 teams) will advance to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals and the final round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The next best 24 teams from the preliminary stage of the joint qualifiers will compete in a separate competition for the remaining slots (12 slots or 11 slots + 1 slot for the host) in the 24-team 2019 Asian Cup.
Photo: AFP