India 1-2 Oman - Five talking points
India opened their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 1-2 loss to Oman in Bengaluru. Indian coach, Stephen Constantine, selected an inexperienced defence, handing debuts to three players in back four. Constantine also handed a debut to Sehnaj Singh in midfield. Bengaluru FC duo, Sunil Chhetri and Robin Singh, spearheaded the attack for the Blue Tigers.
Oman got off to the perfect start with a goal inside 30 seconds to put the Indian defense under pressure. Sunil Chhetri scored the goal of the game with a beautiful curler that went in off the far post. Oman regained the lead in the first half itself with an Al-Hosni penalty. With no more goals in the game, Oman got off to the best possible start to their qualifying campaign while India now play Guam in five days time.
Here are the five talking points of the game:
Inexperience in defence led to India’s downfall
With only captain Arnab Mondal having caps against his name, it was always going to be difficult for the backline to keep the fluid Oman attack in check. Their task was made harder when they conceded in just 25 seconds. It was the opposite of what Constantine would have asked them to do. However, they did redeem themselves with some good defending at times.
With all the players in their early or mid 20’s, it looks like Constantine is thinking about the future rather than the present. The players seem to grow into the game as it went on. It would be only fair to judge them after a few games.
Sunil Chhetri is by far the best player India has had for quite some time
Sunil Chhetri had scored 7 of the last 9 goals scored by the national team and he scored a spectacular one against the might Oman. With Oman losing the ball in their box, Chettri curled the ball with his “weaker left” foot. Oman captain, Ali Al-Habsi, stretched every muscle of his six and a half foot body, but the ball went in off the post.
Chhetri has been India’s go-to man for quite a while now, but India are to mount a serious challenge for a World Cup or AFC Asian cup place others will have to step up and take responsibility. With the likes of Jakichand Singh, Robin Singh and Jeje Lalpekhlua, India have players who can share the goal scoring load and with the experience of playing teams like Oman they are likely to improve with time.