India vs Oman, Highlights, FIFA 2022 World Cup Qualifier: Solitary Muhsen Al-Ghassani goal sees Oman edge past India

FT OMA 1 – 0 IND

And that’s that, India suffer their second loss of the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers, thanks to Muhsen Al-Ghassani’s first-half strike. It’ll be a difficult result for India to swallow, because they’ve played a lot better on the night than they did against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, but they walk away without a single point.

88’ OMA 1 – 0 IND

Ashique has won a couple of corners on that right flank, but India have never looked like they can score from a set-piece. Not that there’s a flood of chances from open play. It just looks like it’s not going to be India’s night.

76’ OMA 1 – 0 IND

Oh lord, after pinging in a number of exquisite set-pieces, Brandon fluffs his lines in what looked like India’s best chance to score. Manvir won a free-kick on the right flank, in a spot that was just begging for a swerving delivery, but Brandon’s pass is floated well above the heads of everyone on the pitch.

65’ OMA 1 – 0 IND

Udanta has been a real thorn in the side of Harib Al-Saadi, who shows his frustration with a reckless tackle on the Indian winger. He’s awarded a yellow for his efforts. It’s too far away from the penalty area, and the angle is a bit awkward, but the Indian players pile into the box anyway. The ball is decent, and it ricochets around for a few seconds before being halted for a foul on an Omani player.

63’ OMA 1 – 0 IND

Oman almost score with a free-kick! Mohsin Al-Khaldi bends one from 25 yards away, but it’s at a great height for Gurpreet, who gets across quickly and parries to safety. A couple of corners come from the ensuing pressure, and India just about deal with them.

60’ OMA 1 – 0 IND

India have kept up the pressure, but there hasn’t been much to show for it in terms of concrete chances. A flick on from Udanta almost found Manvir in space on the edge of the Omani penalty area, but that’s been the pick of the lot so far. If they keep huffing and puffing though, it’s bound to come sooner rather than later.

50’ OMA 1 – 0 IND

India win a free-kick on the right flank, and Brandon stands over it. His ball is put into a dangerous area, but there are no blue shirts around to challenge for it. It’s dealt with quite easily by Oman, but India are getting better by the minute here!

49’ OMA 1 – 0 IND

India have begun the second half on a bright note, keeping possession in the Omani half for a few minutes. Time is of the essence here, and they desperately need a goal.

HT OMA 1 – 0 IND

It’s not as bad as it could be. India have been playing well enough, and there have been a couple of decent chances. A goal is definitely not outside the realms of possibility here. A stirring Friday Night Lights-esque half-time speech from Igor Stimac could do the job

40’ OMA 1 – 0 IND

Oh there was a chance there! Udanta finds himself with acres of green to run into on the left flank, and his ball finds Farukh with space to shoot in the Omani penalty area. He swivels and passes though, after which the chance is quickly extinguished by Oman’s defence. There’s a bit rambunctious tackling from Oman going on at the moment though, surprising they haven’t seen yellow yet.

32’ OMA 1 – 0 IND

Oh what a goal! Muhsen Al-Ghassani latches on to a delicious ball from Mohsin Al-Khaldi to stroke the ball past a stationary Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the Indian goal. The build-up was lightning-quick, and India now face a difficult task ahead.

30’ OMA 0 – 0 IND

Alright then, Halder’s off. It makes sense from Igor Stimac’s perspective, there’s a long time left and a lot of fouls left to commit. Having Halder walking a tightrope is detrimental to the defense, and he’s also injured. Vinit Rai is his replacement.

25’ OMA 0 – 0 IND

Pranoy Halder gives away a set-piece near the edge of the penalty area with a scything challenge that Sergio Ramos would have been proud of. Both him and Adil Khan are on yellows no, which is not ideal. The resultant set-piece is delivered in with some whip, but nothing comes of it as it goes out for a corner off Nishu. The corner almost results in a goal, but the ball sails just over the bar.

23’ OMA 0 – 0 IND

Brandon Fernandes begins a rapid move with a beautiful diagonal ball to the feet of Nishu Kumar, who promptly combines with Udanta before racing into Oman’s penalty area to drill in a low cross. It’s deflected out for a corner, which doesn’t give anyone a chance.

19’ OMA 0 – 0 IND

Udanta shifts through his gears as he sprints away on a counter. He’s brought down unceremoniously by Ali Al-Busaidi around 30 yards away from the Oman goal. Brandon Fernandes takes the set-piece, and it’s a delightful dink that unfortunately results in nothing. Still, positive signs.

15’ OMA 0 – 0 IND

The missed penalty appears to have deflated Oman’s forward momentum a little, with most of the game being played in the middle of the park over the last 10 minutes. Mohammed Al Ghafri has had the closest to what you can realistically categorise as an opportunity, taking a pot-shot from around 25 yards away. It whistles past Gurpreet’s post, but he had it covered.

7’ OMA 0 – 0 IND

Much of the game is being played deep in India’s half, and it’s almost immediately clear what the magnitude of the task is facing India. And Rahul Bheke gives away a penalty, with barely 6 minutes played! It’s a clumsy foul, but it can be read either way. There’s no intent in it, but he did clatter into his Omani opposition. 

Mohsin, who’s stepped up to take the penalty after winning it, rushes it a little and drills it over the bar. Oh lord, that was awful. Rahul Bheke, you lucky, lucky boy.

3’ OMA 0 – 0 IND

Early injury concern for India, as Pronay Halder goes down clutching his shoulder. It looks to be a manageable knock though, because he’s on his feet quickly. The last thing Stimac needs at the moment is another injury.

1’ OMA 0 – 0 IND

India will need to solve the problems that have plagued them over the course of this campaign quickly to win this one. They cannot be as defensively frail as they were against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, because Oman can punish them. They also can’t focus solely on defending, because they need to win this.

Just five minutes to go!

We were just kidding about the Arabic bit, here’s the Oman XI:

Al-Habsi, Al Hidi, Al-Mahaijri, Al-Ghassani, Al-Mukhaini, Al Alawi, Al Ghafri, Al-Saadi, Al-Maslami, Al-Khaldi, Al-Busaidi

Looks like a full house tonight!

📸 جمهورنا الوفي في الموعد كالعادة 😍🔥❤️#عمان_الهند#حلمنا_واحد pic.twitter.com/dzjKMjaHcl

— الاتحاد العماني لكرة القدم (@OmanFA) November 19, 2019

Can I have John Burridge’s number mate?

Winless India must hold their nerve at crucial junctures to get something out of Oman game

In their quest for the first win in the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers, India have travelled a long 1600km to Muscat where they will face Oman, currently in the runners-up spot in Group E. So far in the qualifiers, it has been more of the “same old, same old” for India as they have shown glimpses of magic in every game, and yet failed to make the most of it at crucial junctures of play.

Click here to read more of Sreya Mazumder’s preview of the match.

If any of you read Arabic, here’s the Oman starting XI

Here’s how the Blue Tigers line up!

The Indian 🇮🇳 lineup for #OMAIND ⚔ is here! 👊🏻#BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ #BlueTigers 🐯 pic.twitter.com/uuoa62YiJD

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 19, 2019

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s coverage of India’s match against Oman!

With hopes of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar all but dashed, India will shift focus on qualification for the next round of the Asian Cup, which is a relatively more achievable goal. Their opponents tonight are Oman, a team that has beaten them already this season, thanks to a couple of late goals. Stay tuned for all the updates from this exciting contest!