WC qualifier: Fighting India go down to superior Qatar

Starting trouble in each half saw the hosts concede two goals and finally lost 0-3 to Asian champs

- Dhiman Sarkar

Starting blues in each half ended India’s unbeaten record at home. One that stretched 11 months and 15 games.

For large swathes in between, India suffered on way to a 0-3 defeat but also produced moments that showed it is worth believing in this team when it comes to a third round berth in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. One that would lead to a finals berth in the 2027 Asian Cup. Both would be firsts.

To goals in the fourth and 46th minutes from Moustafa Tarek Mashal and Almoez Ali and Yusuf Abdurisag’s 85th minute header, India replied by dollops of desperate defending and at least three chances, two of them in the first half, when they could have done better. If only Lalengmawia Ralte and Anirudh Thapa had kept their composure. The first move, in the 35th, saw India move the ball from left to right, had a cheeky back-heel inside Qatar’s penalty box from Udanta Singh for Thapa who set up Ralte. With the full goal in his line of sight, Ralte couldn’t test goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.