Barren draw exposes India’s scoring woes

After media releases that hid more than they revealed, Khalid Jamil had explained that the absence of Sunil Chhetri in the CAFA Nations Cup was an opportunity to check out other forwards.

- Dhiman Sarkar

A return of one goal from a central defender in three group league matches showed India’s new head coach that he had not found what he was looking for.

The 0-0 draw against Afghanistan was the third successive match India have failed to win against a team they have a 13-2 win-loss record. India finished on four points from three matches. Tajikistan held Iran to a 2-2 draw in the final group match and finished on four points with India. But India qualified for the third-fourth place playoff by virtue of beating the hosts in their opening match.

In Thursday's stalemate lay Jamil’s biggest challenge: that of finding goals. For in their own penalty box, through the victory against Tajikistan, the defeat to Iran and this draw, India did more right than wrong. This, despite playing three matches in six days.