Pune: India Under-23 could only earn a 1-1 draw against Qatar Under-23 in the second leg at the Balewadi Sports Complex here on Thursday to lose the first round Pre-Olympic qualifier (AFC) 4-2 on aggregate.
Lalrindika failed to score a penalty for India in the first half but an own goal from Khaled Muftah gave Desmond Bulpin’s boys the lead in the second half. However, Qatar avoided defeat as Mohammed El Neel netted the equalizer.
Despite losing 3-1 in the first leg, India coach Bulpin named an unchanged starting lineup with CS Sabeeth once again partnering Jeje Lalpekhlua upfront in a 4-4-2 formation. Milan Singh and Jagtar Singh replaced Zakeer Mundampara and Snehashish Chakraborty in the match squad.
Qatar coach Bernard Simondi made just one change from the match in Doha as Al Khalfan, the scorer of Qatar’s first goal in the first leg, dropped to the bench while Mohammed El Neel, who scored the third after coming off the bench, was given a start.
Despite having a two goal cushion, Qatar were operating in an attack minded 4-2-3-1 formation, looking to cancel out Jeje’s away goal.
Like in the first leg, Qatar skipper Hassan Al Haidous was looking dangerous in the early stages but the West Asian nation were not able to create any clear cut chances.
It was India who created the first opportunity of the game when a long throw from captain Raju Gaekwad found its way to Jeje but the Mizoram-born striker failed to get a proper connection to it.
Qatar’s first shot on target came from striker Al Ansari who did well to make some room for himself just outside the box but his effort was straight into the hands of Laxmikant Kattimani.
In the 20th minute, when Qatar right wingback Murad Naji handled Jeje’s shot inside the box to give away a penalty to the hosts, Lalrindika failed to convert as his weak spot-kick was well saved for a corner by Qatar keeper Al Sheeb.
Despite having more of the possession, Qatar were not getting behind the Indian defence but just after the half an hour mark, Mohammed El Neel did find himself in a good position. However, his cross was easily held by Kattimani.
Meanwhile at the other end, Jewel Raja’s effort from a free-kick went straight into the arms of Al Sheeb. Jeje was involved again three minutes later when he picked up the second ball, after Sabeeth won the initial header, and tried to lob Al Sheeb but the Qatar custodian got his fingertips to it for a corner.
El Neel did put the ball in the back of the net but the flag was up and the Qatar winger got booked for playing on despite the referee’s whistle.
It was Qatar who started the second period strongly as Al Ansari forced a brilliant save off Kattimani.
But India took the lead in the most bizarre way as Khalid Muftah’s back-pass was missed by Qatar keeper Al Sheeb and found its way into the back of the net.
The goal raised the noise levels at the Balewadi as India were then another goal away from going through to the next round.
Qatar raised the tempo of their game but India defended well and limited them to very few chances from open play. Mahdi Mukhtar had a golden opportunity close to the hour mark when a free-kick from Haidous fell kindly for him inside the box; however, the Qatar defender skied his effort off target.
El Neel also had a decent chance as he got on the wrong side of Arnab Mondal but the left winger’s shot narrowly missed the target from a tight angle.
Coach Bulpin then introduced Manandeep Singh in place of Sabeeth but it was Jeje who had a great opening to score India’s second.
Jewel Raja made a fantastic run from midfield and played a delightful through pass for Jeje but unfortunately I-League’s highest Indian scorer couldn’t find the back of the net as his lowly placed meek effort was easily saved by Sheeb.
That missed opportunity came back to haunt India as two minutes later, Mohammed El Neel netted the equaliser by volleying home Fadhl Omar’s cross from the right wing.
Bulpin made another change as Milan Singh replaced Jewel while for Qatar Fahad Khalfan came on for Al Ansari.
Manandeep Singh’s volley from Gurjinder’s cross could only find the side netting for India in the closing stages.
India failed to win the second leg and now crash out of the Olympic qualifiers, though it was an improved performance than the one in Doha.
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