INDIA SLUMP TO FOURTH STRAIGHT DEFEAT
Ashgabat ( Turkmenistan), Oct. 8: The Indian football team’s poor performance continued as they slumped to a fourth straight defeat, losing 1- 2 to Turkmenistan in the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers on Thursday.
India remain at the bottom of the Group D table and now have virtually no chance to even qualify for the Asian Cup by finishing third.
For the winners, Gubanch Abylov scored in the 8th minute while Arslanmynat Amanov scored the winner in the 60th. Jeje Lalpekhlua had equalised for India in the 28th minute.
With the team’s training severely hampered due to Indian Super League preparations, the national team players did not have any motivation as they were practically out after losing the first three matches.
This defeat also puts national coach Stephen Constantine’s future in doubt as the team under him has gone from bad to worse in the last year or so.
India had the first chance of the game as Francis Fernandes lined up a shot only to see it go inches wide of the post. Turkmenistan managed to take the lead against the run of play just two minutes later as Abylov hit on the counter- attack.
However, India equalised in the 28th minute. Turkmenistan keeper Mammet Orazmuhammedow parried a shot but Jeje who was lurking in the box made it 1- 1.
The hosts went ahead again in the 60th minute as Amanov’s smart finish made it 2- 1. Jeje once again tried to restore parity but his powerful header was directed straight at the keeper who collected it with ease.
India had a golden opportunity to equalise in the 86th minute as the profligate Robin Singh with only goalkeeper to beat failed to do so.
That proved to be the last chance for the Indians, who now would like to atleast draw if not beat the lowly placed Guam and salvage some of their pride which has been badly dented.