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Match Preview: Muscat: India will look to avoid their fifth consecutive defeat of their pathetic 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign when they face higher ranked Oman at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex here on Tuesday. World No.167 India have lost all their four matches so far to be rooted at the bottom of Group D. They lost against world No.102 Oman 1-2 in their home match at Bengaluru. Oman have eight points from four matches and are at the second spot in the five-team group, lead by Iran. “We obviously take confidence from that game. But at that time we were playing at home and now we are playing away. We are yet to garner points and definitely want to change the trend,” Indian captain Sunil Chhetri said in a pre-match press conference here on Monday. [caption id=“attachment_2467364” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
File photo of Indian football team. AIFF[/caption] “We aim to keep all the negatives away and not project it as a reason as to why we are weak.” Indian chief coach Stephen Constantine expects the match to be another tough outing for the beleaguered team. “It will be a very difficult match for us. Oman are one of the most underrated teams and most importantly, they know to play Football,” Constantine said in a statement from the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The Indian team reached Muscat after a day-long delay due to weather from Ashbagat, Turkmenistan, where it lost 1-2. “It’s not the best preparation as we go into the match, but again, it is what it is,” he added. India will be without the services of suspended midfielder Eugenson Lyngdoh, who will sit out the match due to a double booking. Constantine wants his team to fight. “We have respect for Oman but we are here to play and we will fight. We didn’t come here to lose. We lost three matches with the same margin, 1-2 and that suggests that we are close,” he concluded. IANS
World Cup Qualifier, as it happened: Oman rout India 3-0 despite Gurpreet's heroics
Vinayakk Mohanarangan
• October 13, 2015, 22:02:59 IST
Live update as India will look to avoid their fifth consecutive defeat of their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign against Oman
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October 13, 2015, 22:02:45 (IST)
That was another shambolic performance from India and only Gurpreet can hold his head high after a remarkable performance in goal. Indian football team is pointless, in more ways than one.
Thanks for joining me for the live coverage. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be going to bed with that Arabic song stuck in my head.
October 13, 2015, 21:54:37 (IST)
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.
October 13, 2015, 21:53:40 (IST)
Into added time now of which there will be three minutes. Thrree more minutes for this misery to end for India.
October 13, 2015, 21:52:32 (IST)
Possibly. Oman just patiently playing this out now.
October 13, 2015, 21:50:30 (IST)
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.
October 13, 2015, 21:47:32 (IST)
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.
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October 13, 2015, 21:46:19 (IST)
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.
October 13, 2015, 21:43:07 (IST)
October 13, 2015, 21:41:43 (IST)
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.
October 13, 2015, 21:37:28 (IST)
October 13, 2015, 21:36:51 (IST)
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.
October 13, 2015, 21:35:05 (IST)
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October 13, 2015, 21:34:11 (IST)
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.
October 13, 2015, 21:31:22 (IST)
Meanwhile, Robin Singh just came on for India.
October 13, 2015, 21:30:23 (IST)
October 13, 2015, 21:30:21 (IST)
October 13, 2015, 21:29:07 (IST)
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.
October 13, 2015, 21:27:14 (IST)
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
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October 13, 2015, 21:25:17 (IST)
October 13, 2015, 21:23:45 (IST)
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.
October 13, 2015, 21:19:14 (IST)
Could not have anything about this. Mondal completely left the player unmarked far post.
October 13, 2015, 21:18:23 (IST)
Its 1-0 Oman after 57 mins. They continue to fashion the chances.
October 13, 2015, 21:17:09 (IST)
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.
October 13, 2015, 21:15:28 (IST)
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.
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October 13, 2015, 21:12:11 (IST)
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.
October 13, 2015, 21:10:46 (IST)
October 13, 2015, 21:10:44 (IST)
October 13, 2015, 21:10:23 (IST)
I missed this substitution. Apologies. Hoping got more steel in the midfield perhaps.
October 13, 2015, 21:08:57 (IST)
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.
October 13, 2015, 21:05:51 (IST)
The teams are back for the second half. Awaiting to find out the language of commentary.
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October 13, 2015, 21:01:24 (IST)
October 13, 2015, 21:01:01 (IST)
October 13, 2015, 20:59:52 (IST)
As diffuicult as it has been for India, the Blues are still in this game.
October 13, 2015, 20:56:51 (IST)
October 13, 2015, 20:54:10 (IST)
I bet the Indian back five will disagree about the enjoyable part.
October 13, 2015, 20:51:13 (IST)
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
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October 13, 2015, 20:48:46 (IST)
October 13, 2015, 20:46:57 (IST)
Referee indicates of 2 mins of added time. At least that was not in Arabic.
October 13, 2015, 20:46:32 (IST)
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!
October 13, 2015, 20:46:28 (IST)
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!
End of Liveblog