Source: The Sangai Express / Philem Dipak Singh
Hyderabad, July 31:
An injury time goal by Climax Lawrence saw a patchy India scrap past minnows Afghanistan in their opening Group A match of the AFC Challenge Cup here yesterday.
Climax saved the day for India scoring in the 92nd minute after being fed by substitute Clifford Miranda to the relief of the Indian camp and handful of spectators who cheered every move of their home team at the floodlit Gachibowli stadium here.
India, however, largely failed to live up to pre-tournament hype and they have to dish out a much improved performance in their two remaining matchesagainst Tajikistan and Turkmenistan to harbour hopes of winning the eight-nation tournament and qualify for 2011 Asian Cup after 24 years.
India completely dominated the first 25 minutes having most of the ball possession and making several attacks.
It seemed for a while that Bob Houghton's charges would walk away with full points without much resistance from their opponents, the lowest ranked side in the tournament at 181st in latest FIFA charts, but the fight by the players from the war-ravaged country left the Indians surprised as well as red-faced in front of the home crowd.
The Afghans, who had two players who their ply trade in lower division clubs in Germany in their ranks, almost turned the tables towards the breather, getting two fine chances with the hosts surviving thanks to Subrata Paul's brilliant goal-keeping.