World Cup Qualifier, as it happened: Oman rout India 3-0 despite Gurpreet's heroics

ITS FULL TIME! End of yet another disappointing night for Indian football as Oman thrash the Blues 3-0. It could have been much, much more.

Into added time now of which there will be three minutes. Thrree more minutes for this misery to end for India.

Possibly. Oman just patiently playing this out now. 

Only saving grace is our keeper. Gurpreet you are a star. Our David De Gea. That kid has made so many saves. #OMAvIND

— Donato Pavrey (@donatopavrey) October 13, 2015

India with a free kick from a central area, but well out of the box. The ball is rolled for Chhetri to take a shot but it is high, wild and wide.

THAT seemed like offside as well. The decision that mattered has gone against India, but it was a quality cross and a quality finish. Abdul has a brace now.

Oh dear! Oman score yet again to take a 3-0 lead. A cross from right finds Adbul in the box, unmarked who heads it past Gurpreet.  The defenders look tired, worn-out and of course, defeated. Hands on knees.

Sandu's keeping like his life depends on it. The defence could learn a lot from him. A little fighting spirit would be nice. #OMAvIND

— Shiv Nair (@ShoeNair) October 13, 2015

Oman continue to probe the indian defence, but crosses from flank dealt with by Indian defence. A clever reverse pass through the center puts a forward one-one-one but Gurpreet once again flies out of his line to get a block in. The off-side flag had gone up, but that was a wrong call.

No problem with defence. Problem is attack - how to win without scoring? India defended from first whistle, it had to give at some point.

— Pulasta Dhar (@TheFalseNo9) October 13, 2015

Inexplicable miss by Oman! The forward gets a free run in the box from the right, dribbles past defenders like they are not there, and shoots wide from 4-5 yards out. Another attack from Oman, but Gurpreet covers his angles well as the winger gets his shot from the left.

Free kick from a good position for Oman but it results in a corner – which is poor. India counter with 3 on 3 and the pass from left flank goes horribly wrong. Oman attack again.

Meanwhile, Robin Singh just came on for India. 

Okay. Time to get back to FIFA 15 and making India win. Oh the dreams that we have! #IndvOma #OMAvIND

— Aravind S (@arvisusi) October 13, 2015

Goal, OMAN! Too easy, too easy. A lofted pass from outside the box finds an unmarked No. 9 between two defenders – Jhingan completely loses the flight of the ball. The forward has enough time to get it under his feet and slot it past Gurpreet.

India 0 – 2 Oman. That should be the game.

More spaces beginning to open up for Oman here as India start to tire / attempt attacking / lose organisation. Oman #18 is put through down the left but his shot from a tight angle hits side-netting. 

Oman 1 – 0 India

This should be the new way to telecast football...play trippy music in the background. Could get used to this! #OMAvIND #BacktheBlue

— Angikaar Choudhury (@AngikaarC) October 13, 2015

Nothing to show on the attacking front of India but Gurpreet continues to remain solid. Coming out for crosses and cutbacks really well and showing authority. India lose possession repeatedly with aimles long balls.

Could not have anything about this. Mondal completely left the player unmarked far post.

Really sad for @GurpreetGK. He has been brilliant, must have been agonising to concede #OMAvIND

— Ujwal (@UjwalKS) October 13, 2015

Its 1-0 Oman after 57 mins. They continue to fashion the chances.

GOAL, OMAN! There it is. A deep free kick from right is missed by Mondal as he leaves a player unmarked, the header back into the area finds a forward who taps into the empty net. Poor goal to concede, very similar to the first one against Iran.

OH CHANCE, INDIA! Jeje is through on goal after bit of  head-tennis but the Oman defender puts in a crucial sliding tackle from behind. Shouts of penalty but that was clean. Good effort, Jeje.

GURPREET TO THE RESCUE! Again. Oman work a nice chance from the right, keeping it on the ground. An onrushing midfielder gets the cut back, through on goal but hesitates to get the shot away as Gurpreet claws it out of his foot. Goal kick.

Astonishing how quickly Oman defenders crowd out India's attackers before they can even start going forward. #OMAvIND

— Pulasta Dhar (@TheFalseNo9) October 13, 2015

Astonishing how quickly Oman defenders crowd out India's attackers before they can even start going forward. #OMAvIND

— Pulasta Dhar (@TheFalseNo9) October 13, 2015

I missed this substitution. Apologies. Hoping got more steel in the midfield perhaps.

Second half gets underway and Sehnaj has come in place of Rowllin Borges in the midfield #OMAvIND

— Mihir Vasavda (@mihirsv) October 13, 2015

Well turns out there is no commentary for this half. I was kind of looking forward to a crazy goal celebration.

0-0 in the second half so far, patient from Oman.

The teams are back for the second half. Awaiting to find out the language of commentary.

We hardly penetrated Oman's half, but we did good to hold on. Physical fitness should be a huge worry #OMAvIND

— Ujwal (@UjwalKS) October 13, 2015

As diffuicult as it has been for India, the Blues are still in this game. 

Half time & it's goalless in Muscat, thanks largely to Gurpreet. 1st time in these qualifiers that India haven't conceded in a half #OMAvIND

— Mihir Vasavda (@mihirsv) October 13, 2015

HT Oman 0-0 India
Ten corners & 14 attempts on goal for the hosts, but no breakthrough #WCQhttp://t.co/7ipu8YacyR pic.twitter.com/PaCdmLBZ3k

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 13, 2015

I bet the Indian back five will disagree about the enjoyable part.

OOH!! YET ANOTHER BIG CHANCE FOR OMAN! Jhingan is fooled by a feint and shoot move inside the box but Narayan Das puts in a remarkable last ditch block as the referee blows it for half-time.

HALF TIME in MUSCAT: Oman 0 – 0 India

Oman is way too good for India right now. It's a miracle they are not ahead already. #OMAvIND

— JWST stan account (@coderzombie) October 13, 2015

Referee indicates of 2 mins of added time. At least that was not in Arabic.

After Oman come close yet again with a shot from outside, India have a rare foray forward. Jeje finds Sunil and the forwards work well together to fashin a shooting chance for Chhetri who curls a left foot effor from just outisde the D which sails over. Much better from India that!

After Oman come close yet again with a shot from outside, India have a rare foray forward. Jeje finds Sunil and the forwards work well together to fashin a shooting chance for Chhetri who curls a left foot effor from just outisde the D which sails over. Much better from India that!

ANOTHER GOOD SAVE! Gurpreet keeping India in this one. A speedy attack down the right flank results in an early low cross that beats the defenders, and met at the near post by the forward but the flick is blocked by Gurpreet who bravely latches on to the rebound. Bit of a scuffle afterwards.

0-0 after 40 mins.

GOOD SAVE, Gurpreet! Oman worked it around patiently outside the D before unleashing a shot from just outside the box but Gurpreet stays tall and palms it over the post. Another chance from down the left but the cut back is met with a tame shot that Gurpreet saves easily.

A rare spell of possession for India as the play a few passes around before it goes all the way to the center-halves who pump it forward and the Blues lose possesion again. Need to do better with the ball. 

0-0 after 38 mins

My thoughts, precisely.

.@SonySIX seems to have taken on board feedback from fans about the quality of commentary during India's home WCQ and today....#OMAvIND @fni

— Sameer Shirodkar (@SameerSh29) October 13, 2015

That’s one way to put it, yes.

#IndianFootball #BacktheBlue #INDvOMA 27th and India have denied Oman so far.

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 13, 2015

Yet another high cross down the left flank and the Oman forward gets a stooping header in but Mondal does enough to put him off and it foes for a goal kick.

Oman come again….

Bit of a respite for India, but only because the players break for some water. Amazing this game is still 0-0. But Chhetri and Co will know it will take just one counterattack to get their noses ahead. 

Play restrarts. 0-0 after 32 mins.

Total domination from Oman in the first quarter. They have hit the woodwork as well. Still Goalless.

— Indian Football News (@indianfootynet) October 13, 2015

ts relentless attack from Oman. Another free kick from the right for Oman and the header falls wide. India barely keeping the ball.

BARELY, SOMEHOW 0-0 after 25 mins.

ts relentless attack from Oman. Another free kick from the right for Oman and the header falls wide. India barely keeping the ball.

BARELY, SOMEHOW 0-0 after 25 mins.

OOH, BIG CHANCES OMAN! Back-to-back corners and India barely manage to keep it out of the nets. First one hits the inside of the post, hits Gurpreet and trickles away behind the byline.

Then a goal-line clearance gives the ball back to Oman who attack down the left once again. Rebound falls to Oman forward who gets his shot away but Gurpreet palms it over the bar.

I

Finally the match is on Sony KIX. #INDvOMA #Indianfootball

— football news india (@fni) October 13, 2015

Another cross from left flank but Jhingan gets his head to it first. Resulting corner is wasted by Oman. India regroup with a goal kick. 

0-0 after 19 minutes

Action completely in India’s defensive third so far. Like you would expect. Jhingan with some good blocks. Chhetri tries to relieve some pressure, holds up ball well but India barely cross half line.

Well seems like Sony Six forgot that they were supposed to show the match. But we’ll keep the live blog going. The score is still 0-0 after 12 mins.

Getting ridiculous now, guys.

#OMAvIND match has started. no signs of the match on @SonySIX #Indianfootball

— football news india (@fni) October 13, 2015

We are still waiting for the telecast to start. I’m twiddling thumbs.

Hearing there are 4 changes in the starting XI for Oman game. Lyngdoh (suspended), Kotal (knee injury), Robin & Sehnaj not playing #OMAvIND

— Mihir Vasavda (@mihirsv) October 13, 2015

The big news from the line-up is Robin Singh getting dropped to the bench after a string of disappointing performances.

Here’s what goalkeeping coach Rogerio Ramos talking to Firstpost about India’s star goalkeeper Gurpreet.

He has a good physical side — very good — tall and strong, but we should improve his speed and how to move quickly from one side to the other. He also needs to work on his kicking and gripping.
But he is cool, calm and intelligent and can play in a very good role because his decision making is good. He needs to better his pace. He is working in Norway and we expect him to show us something. He is improving and has time. We cannot hurry and push him too fast for fear of exposing him too soon. (Since this interview, Gurpreet has played twice for India). I guide him on what he should be doing and advise him to speak with his coach and do all that in Norway, which is basically speed work. This is something we can accomplish.

Minutes away from kick-off, fellas. Here’s hoping for a good showing from the Indian players today.

http://www.firstpost.com/sports/oman-vs-india-gurpreet-subrata-or-karanjit-blues-goalkeeping-coach-runs-the-rule-over-shot-stoppers-2466786.html

Gurpreet has got the nod today for the start – but what does India’s goalkeeping coach think about three equally talented custodians? Here’s Pulasta Dhar’s exclusive.

Clarification: Lyngdoh is suspended for this match.

Eugeneson Lyngdoh misses out to a one-match suspension after picking up his second yellow of the campaign against #turkmenistan #OMAvIND

— Naveen Peter (@peterspeaking) October 13, 2015

The match kicks-off at 8pm and is, in fact, being telecast live on Sony Six HD and Sony Kix.

Here’s the line-up: (courtesy AIFF)

INDIA- Gurpreet. Rin. Arnab. Sandesh. Narayan. Francis. Rowlin. Lobo. Jairu. Chhetri. Jeje. 

Seems Lyngdoh is not starting. Starting lineup to be confirmed soon.

#IndianFootball #BacktheBlue #INDvOMA The worst feeling for a Footballer. Missing despite being fit. @eugeneson10 pic.twitter.com/MhNS1GMNff

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 13, 2015

World Cup Qualifier: Can beleaguered India break their winless streak in Oman? – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

India are without a win in their World Cup qualifying campaign, even losing to lower-ranked Guam and pressure has been piling on the players and coach Stephen Constantine who took up the job early this year.

(PTI)

Hi and welcome to Firstpost’s live coverage of the World Cup Qualifier between India and Oman, being played in Muscat.