India vs Oman, Highlights, FIFA 2022 World Cup Qualifier Football Match: Al Mandhar scores twice as Oman beat hosts

Full-time, INDIA 1-2 OMAN

Al Mandhar the hero of the match. Scores two superb goals to turn the match around for Oman. They are still unbeaten under Erwin Koeman. India did try their best but it’s not enough.

90’ INDIA 1-2 OMAN

GOAAAL! 

Al Mandhar with a wonderful dribble and strike to score Oman’s second goal of the match. Three minutes of added time left.

86’ INDIA 1-1 OMAN

Brilliant block from Sandesh Jhingan. The Indian defender covers good ground and dives to make sure Oman don’t score their second.

83’ INDIA 1-1 OMAN

And India almost get the second goal. Good ball from Udanta to Chhangte on the left, but the winger fails to convert the chance.

82’ INDIA 1-1 OMAN

GOAAAL! 

Oman get the equaliser. Al Mandhar makes a superb run and beats Gurpreet with a fine finish.

78’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

Well, India make their second change. Manvir comes in to replace Ashique in the attack.

75’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

India are playing on the counter. But with just one man in the attack – Ashique – they are finding it difficult to break the defence. Stimac, despite making an attacking change, still concentrating on the defence.

73’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

Another solid save from Gurpreet to deny Oman and Rahul Bheke clears away the danger. The Indian goalkeeper has been terrific so far in the match.

72’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

If the result stay the same then Stimac would’ve pulled off a terrific win, which will boost their qualification chances for the third round of the AFC Asian Cup. Oman trying their best but India holding on.

67’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

Yellow card is shown to India’s Sandesh Jhingan. The hosts are holding on to a slender lead. Even Oman players are looking tired, but they can’t afford to take rest.

65’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

The match gone bit end-to-end stuff. India winning the balls and attacking quickly while Oman are also pushing for the equaliser.

60’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

India’s Rowllin Borges is shown yellow for a bad tackle. But he has at his best today. Pressing and winning the balls.

58’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

Well, India might make the change here. Chhangte is getting ready to come in. His pace will certainly help the team. He replaces Brandon Fernandes in the midfield.

54’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

Err, almost an own goal for Anirudh Thapa. He tries to clear the ball inside the box but hits it straight to Gurpreet. The Indian goalkeeper does well to push the ball away.

52’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

Oman are dominating the possession. India should make sure they don’t allow too much time on the ball and the concentration levels should right up there.

48’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

As expected, Oman quickly on the attack. They force two early corner but nothing comes out of them.

45’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

The second-half is underway in Guwahati. Sunil Chhetri’s goal is the difference between both the teams so far. One change for Oman. Al Ghassani replaces Saleh.

INDIA 1-0 OMAN

Hopefully, the team will not just sit back and defend, like they would do it in the Constantine era. Stimac has a good bench strength with the likes of Chhangte and Sahal raring to go and make an impact. One more goal for India and they can really think about taking all the points. Oman will come hard, especially in the early stages of the second-half.

Half-time, INDIA 1-0 OMAN

End of the first 45 minutes. Igor Stimac will be a happy man but he knows the job’s not done yet. Captain fantastic Sunil Chhetri score his 72nd goal of his international career to ensure India take the lead in the match. Oman will have a lot of thinking to do. Their defence is not up to the mark and both Chhetri and Ashique ran rampant giving them a lot of headaches.

43’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

Chance for Oman. A good header by Al Mahaijri but the Indian goalkeeper Gurpreeti Singh Sandhu pulls off a good save to deny Oman the equaliser.

38’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

India look more dogged after scoring the first goal. They are concentrating on the defence, but will aim to attack on the break. There’s actually no need to change their gameplan. They should stick to pressing and attack.

35’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

India’s midfield is putting a good shift in the midfield. They are winning the balls with their pressing. Anirudh and Rowllin are maintaining high intensity. Oman are lacking ideas in the attack.

31’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

Oman’s defending to that goal has to be questioned, They simply failed to mark Chhetri and looked shocked when the striker netted the goal. Stimac will be very happy to go into the break with a 1-0 lead.

26’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

India get a freekick after foul on Ashique near the box on the left. Chhetri finds space in the middle of the box and the delivery to him is perfect. The captain makes the run and unleashes a powerful left footer to beat Oman goalkeeper.

24’ INDIA 1-0 OMAN

GOAAAAL! 

Sunil Chhetri with a solid finish to give India the lead in the match.

20’ INDIA 0-0 OMAN

Another chance for India from a corner. This time, Sandesh Jhingan wins the header but the ball is above and wide. India have upped the ante in the last five minutes.

19’ INDIA 0-0 OMAN

Sunil Chhetri was the man again providing the chances for India. He collected the ball and released Udanta quickly, but the winger should’ve done better.

15’ INDIA 0-0 OMAN

What a chance for India! Mistake from Oman goalkeeper and India almost scored the first goal of the match. Udanta Singh’s shot from a close range hit the bar.

13’ INDIA 0-0 OMAN

Right, the game has settled down a bit. Oman are keeping the ball and India have looked to break the defensive lines twice with long balls.The hosts have not hit a shot on target so far.

9’ INDIA 0-0 OMAN

First shot on the goal by Oman. Good final pass and the shot is taken well byy Al-Aziz but Gurpreet blocks it and then the defenders clear the danger. Oman now dominating the possession.

4’ INDIA 0-0 OMAN

First corner of the match and it belongs to India. But it was a bad delivery from Anirudh Thapa. He should’ve done better there as Oman clear the ball away with ease.

3’ INDIA 0-0 OMAN

Looks like captain Chhetri is playing as the lone striker and Ashique is just behind him. Few decent moves by the home team.

1’ INDIA 0-0 OMAN

So the national anthems and handshakes are done and we have a kick-off. 

India start off the proceedings in the middle.

India have never beaten their opponents in the five previous meetings. The last time they met Oman, it was in a warm-up match before the AFC Asian Cup, which ended in a goalless draw.

Here’s Oman’s starting XI: 

Faiyz (GK), Raed, Abdulaziz, Saad, Al Mahaijri, Al Mandhar, Al Busaidi, Al Musallami, Salaah, Al Gheilani, Harib.

Looking at the line-up, it seems Stimac has gone with 4-2-3-1. Chhetri or Ashique will be the lone man up front. In the defence, Sandesh and Bheke will mostly be the centre-back pairing with Adil and Subhasish occupying in full-backs role.

The teams are in! 

Getting ready 🙌🏻 to rumble 🤜🏻💥🤛🏻! #INDOMA ⚔ #WCQ 🌏🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ #BlueTigers 🐯 pic.twitter.com/4vBo0hqsJu

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 5, 2019

There’s no denying that Oman will pose plenty of problems to India and they obviously start as favourites. India’s chances will depend on their ability to frustrate their opponents and capitalise on the mistakes. A draw could be a good result for India, considering this is the first match of the qualifiers and Indian players lack the match practice, but clinching a victory is not an impossible target.

Read our preview of the match here .

So, bit surprising playing XI from Igor Stimac. Sahal Abdul Samad, Chhangte and Vinit Rai are all benched. Brandon Fernandes and Rowllin Borges start on the midfield. At the back, it will be Sandesh Jhingan, Rahul Bheke, Adil Khan and Subhasish Bose. 

Caution seems to be the motive, at least till first-half. Sahal and Chhangte will probably come in the second-half to make impact.

Here’s the starting line-up of the Indian team:

Here is how we lineup 🙌🏻 against Oman 🇴🇲 #INDOMA ⚔ #WCQ 🌏🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ #BlueTigers 🐯 pic.twitter.com/9MI6NvgtlN

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 5, 2019

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifier between India and Oman at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. 

After being drawn in Group E of the qualifiers, Igor Stimac’s Indian side will begin their campaign against higher-ranked Oman, It’s going to be a tough task for Indians against a better team but Stimac will hope his side will give their best and earn a positive result. Tough doesn’t mean it’s impossible. 

Oman are coming into the match as favourites and they will look to clinch all the points with a victory. 

We will get you all the updates from the match so stay tuned!