India, ranked 121st in the world, had taken a surprising lead through Lallianzuala Chhangte‘s 37th-minute strike, marking the first time Qatar had trailed in the current World Cup qualifying campaign.
Bur the match took a controversial turn when Qatar’s Yousef Aymen scored a goal that was contested by the Indian team as the ball appeared to have gone out of play at the baseline before the goal was scored.
With Qatar footballers defending their act and celebrating the goal, the Indian players vehemently protested the decision, approaching the linesman in desperation, but their appeals were unsuccessful.
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Despite protests from the Indian players, the referee adjudged the goal as fair, a decision that significantly affected the morale and momentum of the Indian team.
Qatar capitalized on the unsettled Indian team and scored their second goal through Ahmed Al-Rawi in the 85th minute, sealing their victory.
The match was played in the backdrop of the recent international retirement of Sunil Chhetri, arguably India’s greatest footballer.
Nevertheless, under the guidance of coach Igor Stimac, the team showcased resilience and a competitive spirit against the Asian champions.
The presence of a significant number of Indian supporters at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium added to the atmosphere, with the fans vocally backing their team, especially after Chhangte’s goal.
The decision by the referee has been a point of contention, with many arguing that it robbed India of a historic opportunity to advance to the third round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
