Indian defender Sandesh Jhingan | PTI
Indian defender Sandesh Jhingan | PTI

Lacklustre India held to Myanmar stalemate

India Played out a 2-2 draw against Myanmar in the return-leg match of the AFC Asian Cup qualifying Group A match.

MARGAO:  India Played out a 2-2 draw against Myanmar in the return-leg match of the AFC Asian Cup qualifying Group A match at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here on Tuesday. The hosts have already qualified for the Asian Cup but the result virtually ends their chances of making it through to Pot 2 of the draw. India fell behind twice but came back both times to stretch their unbeaten streak in 13 matches.

Myanmar scored in the very first minute of the game through Yan Naing Oo but India hit back in the 12th minute through a Sunil Chhetri penalty. Kyaw Ko Ko regained the advantage for the visitors seven minutes later. India had to wait until the 69th minute for Jeje Lalpekhlua to hit home a second equaliser.

India almost found a winner in the dying embers of the game with Chhetri’s indirect freekick finding its way to the net. But the goal was ruled ineligible as no Indian player had managed to get a touch on it. The first leg in Myanmar had ended 1-0 in March with Chhetri scoring the winner. With the draw, India are top of the group with 13 points from five matches.

Myanmar are placed second with five points from four matches. The result though will bring down India’s ranking with Myanmar currently placed 155th on the FIFA table. This will impact India’s hopes of getting a favourable draw for the Asian Cup.

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