Hyderabad, August 02: Lacklustre performances in the first two league games have put India in a do-or-die situation in their final group A match against Turkmenistan tomorrow and only a win would see them through to the semis of the AFC Challenge Cup football tournament here.

With four points from two matches, a win tomorrow will also put India on top of the group and help them avoid a clash with title favourites DPR Korea in the cross-legged semifinals.

Turkmenistan are also on four points while defending champions Tajikistanwho play Afghanistan in their last group match simultaneously tomorrow are on two points after a couple of draws.

A draw for India tomorrow may not be enough for them to get the last four berth.

In that case, the hosts, Turkmenistan and Tajikistanif they beat Afghanistanwill have five points each.

Turkmenistan will be through to semifinals with better goal difference after thrashing Afghanistan 5-0 yesterday and Tajikistan could pip India if they beat Afghanistan by a 2-0 margin.

But beating Turkmenistan will be no stroll in the park for Bob Houghton's charges as the Central Asians, who are without a couple of key players from their first team due to non-release by top clubs in Russia and neighbouring countries, have been peaking at the right time.

They could not score against Tajikistan in their first match despite dominating most part of the match, but against the Afghans they banged in five and their morale must be high after that.

That should be an ominous sign for the hosts whose defenders have been having a nightmarish time in the tournament so far.

And, with their forwards largely struggling to create the chances let alone getting the finishing touches, it would need a vastly improved performance by the Baichung Bhutia-led side which is nurturing hopes of qualifying for the 2011 Asian Cup by winning this tournament.

Meanwhile, Houghton said except for injured Deepak Mondal and Mahesh Gawli, all the key players will start tomorrow.

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