AFC Asian Cup 2023: Igor Stimac rues 'silly mistakes' in Uzbekistan defeat

After the defeat to Australia in the AFC Asian Cup opener, India football team manager Igor Stimac said the team were 'irresponsible' and 'sloppy' with the ball. After being hammered 3-0 by Uzbekistan in the second fixture in the competition, Stimac was again left to rue the team’s “silly mistakes” on Thursday. With twin defeats, India sit bottom of the points table in Group B. Australia occupy top spot with six points with Uzbekistan second on four points. Syria, beaten 0-1 by Australia after a goalless draw with Uzbekistan, are third with a single point. With a match against Syria to go, India desperately need a win to qualify for the next round in the AFC Asian Cup. Australia and Uzbekistan are primed to qualify as the top-two teams. India’s hopes will pin on emerging as one of the best third-place sides across groups. Analysis | India were underprepared for marauding Uzbekistan “If we take the goals out of the game — which were caused by silly mistakes — I could be happy with the performance,” India coach Stimac said. Uzbekistan were up and running early in Doha. Abbosbek Fayzullaev gave the Uzbeks the lead in the fifth minute, the 20-year-old CSKA Moscow winger nodding in Otabek Shukurov’s looping header. India’s chaotic defending led to the second goal 14 minutes later, a sliding Sandesh Jhingan chipped the ball against his own bar for Igor Sergeev to score on the rebound. Blue Tigers’ hopes of an unlikely comeback were extinguished during first-half stoppage time, Sherzod Nasrullaev exploiting some statuesque defending to notch a third. Uzbekistan took their foot off the gas in the second half, allowing India repeated attempts to supply Sunil Chhetri in the centre of the attack, but the veteran striker toiled to no avail and was subbed off with 20 minutes remaining.