Turkmenistan tame India 2-1

Action from the Asian World Cup second round qualifier between India and Turkmenistan at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Tuesday. The hosts lost 1-2. (Photo: SUNOJ NINAN MATHEW)

India’s world cup qualifying campaign finished the usual way. The absence of talisman Sunil Chhetri due to injury could yet again be lamented. But the fact remains that a second-string Turk-menistan mustered the courage and guile to snatch a 2-1 win, leaving India three points from eight matches in the Asian qualification for the 2018 World Cup.

The visitors scored twice in the second half after Sandesh Jhingan had put India ahead in 26 minutes. Second-half substitute Serdarali Atayev struck the winner in 70 minutes after skipper Amanov Arslanmurat,, who also missed a first-half penalty, equalised on 49 minutes.

Stephen Constantine had made three changes to his side that lost 0-4 to Iran on Thursday. Cavin Lobo, Arnab Mondal and Pritam Kotal replaced Bikash Jairu, Aiborlang Khonjee and Holicharan Narzary. With India holding a defensive shape Jeje was used as a lone striker in the continued absence of Chhetri. The visitors pressed higher up and their best attacks were generated by their captain Amanov Arslanmurat. He left Augustine Fernandes gasping for breath on 20 minutes while sprinting down the right, but placed a tame cross that was collected by Gurpreet.

India took the lead against the run of play as Jhingan towered above his marker to glance a header from a freekick. Narayan Das’s delivery from 30 metres dipped and the lanky defender placed his headed effort past a hapless Mamed Orazmuhamedov.

The visitors scored the equaliser inside three minutes from restart as Gurpreet was caught napping. Augustine was equally at fault as he offered space and time for Gevorkyan to cross and as the ball swung in, the India custodian was out of position. Meanwhile Arslanmurat had sneaked in with a cheeky header from point-blank range.