New Delhi [India], September 9 (ANI): Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stepped up when it mattered the most, producing a crucial diving save off Al Yahmadi’s effort as India edged past Oman 1(3)-1(2) on penalties to clinch the bronze medal at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 in Hisor.
The veteran goalkeeper took to Instagram, sharing his emotions and reflecting on the team’s journey through the tournament, “Memories, that’s all we will be left with. As a team we discussed if we are here to merely participate or are we going to push for something that we can all remember in our lives. I am thankful to the AIFF and @cafassociation for making this happen, giving us a shot. The tough competition tested us — we won, we failed, and we learnt. We move on. Heads down because the job’s not finished.”
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOXh3UkDHbe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Oman, a team ranked 79th in the FIFA rankings, while India sits at 133rd. Earlier in the tournament, the Indian team also stunned Tajikistan, ranked 106, in their opening game, proving their ability to beat stronger opponents.
India’s campaign at the CAFA Nations Cup has been nothing short of inspirational, defeating two higher-ranked teams, Tajikistan and Oman, and showing that Indian football is steadily rising on the global stage.
The achievement is particularly significant as India, a member of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), competed against Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) nations, where the level of competition is considerably higher.
By defeating two higher-ranked teams and securing a podium finish, India’s success at the CAFA Nations Cup signals a turning point and fuels hopes of a brighter future for Indian football.
Coming to the match, Udanta Singh Kumam’s 80th-minute goal cancelled out Jameel Al Yahmadi’s 55th-minute opener. It was all down to the dreaded penalty shootout, as the 30 minutes of extra time did not yield any result. Oman defender Ali Al Busaidi was sent off in the 96th minute.
Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahul Bheke, and Jithin MS scored for India in the penalties, while Anwar Ali’s spot-kick was saved and Udanta missed. Meanwhile, Thani Al Rushaidi, Muhsen Al Ghassani were the only two players to score their spot kicks for Oman. Harib Al Saadi and Ahmed Al Kaabi missed theirs, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, in dramatic fashion, produced a save off the last kick of the game from Jameel Al Yahmadi.
It was one of those matches where pure statistics would not be able to paint the entire picture. While Oman enjoyed the majority of possession, both sides shared nearly an equal number of chances. India began on the front foot, launching counterattacks through Vikram Partap Singh and Lallianzuala Chhangte on the wings.
The Blue Tigers’ real chance came in the 16th minute, when a Muhammed Uvais long throw was headed on towards Anwar by Nikhil Prabhu. The defender’s powerful header was saved by Oman goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini.
Oman, however, began to grow into the game, and Sandhu was soon called into the action in the 25th minute, when Issam Al Sabhi’s shot from outside the box was palmed away by India’s skipper keeper.
Minutes later, Nasser Al Rawahi slipped through between the Indian defensive lines and only had Sandhu to beat. However, his angular shot rolled wide of the goal.
India had a good chance to take the lead just before half-time, when Chhangte found Irfan Yadwad with a low cut-back, but the latter scuffed his shot, which went wide.
Oman started on the front foot in the second half and scored within 10 minutes of the restart when Abdullah Fawaz flicked the ball from inside the box with the outside of his boot towards Al Yahmadi, who tapped it in at the far post.
An even contest ensued after the goal, as India looked for a way back into the match. Blue Tigers head coach Khalid Jamil, with a little over 10 minutes of regulation time left, introduced Udanta and Suresh Singh Wangjam into the fray, and the substitutions immediately made an impact.
Rahul Bheke’s 80th-minute long throw was flicked on towards the far post by the head of Danish Farooq, as Udanta rushed in to produce an instinctive header that bounced into the net. There was a relatively long wait after the goal, as the video assistant referee checked for infringements in the box, but the goal was finally allowed.
Udanta created another opportunity in injury time, playing substitute Manvir Singh (jr) through with an aerial poke, but it was dealt with by the Oman defence as the match went into extra time.
Al Busaidi was given his marching orders after the commencement of extra time, and India now began to gain control of the proceedings with the man advantage. However, chances were few and far between in the additional 30 minutes, and the two sides soon had to line up for the dreaded penalties.
India shot into a 2-0 lead in the shootout after Al Saadi and Al Kaabi missed, but Oman goalkeeper Al Mukhaini’s save off of Anwar’s spot-kick, and Udanta’s miss brought them back into the contest. Sandhu stepped in when it mattered the most, producing a diving save off Al Yahmadi’s effort, to win the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 bronze medal for India in Tajikistan. (ANI)
Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed of ANI; only the image & headline may have been reworked by News Services Division of World News Network Inc Ltd and Palghar News and Pune News and World News
HINDI, MARATHI, GUJARATI, TAMIL, TELUGU, BENGALI, KANNADA, ORIYA, PUNJABI, URDU, MALAYALAM
For more details and packages
