India’s disastrous performance at the international level continued as they went down 0-3 to Tajikistan in a football international friendly on Wednesday.
Nuriddin Davronov (12th minute), Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev (18th) and Akhtam Khamrakulov (90+3) scored for the home team at the 20 Years of Independence Stadium.
India, playing an international after a long gap, gave a poor account of themselves as Tajikistan looked a far better side in front of the 10,000-odd spectators.
The home side used the wide areas to good effect as they made forays from the flanks. India no. 2 custodian Sandeep Nandy, who is nearly 39, too wasn’t in his elements.
The home team were rewarded as early as in the 12th minute when Fatkhullo sprinted down the left and kept a low centre which was tapped in by an onrushing Nuriddin. Defenders Raju Gaekwad and debutant Arnab Mondal were not in a position to stop Nuriddin from scoring.
Conceding an early goal made matters worse for Wim Koevermans’ boys who were without two of their best players, Syed Rahim Nabi and Subrata Paul —- both dropped for not doing pre-season training.
Tajikistan went up by 2-0 when Vasiev Dilshod dodged past Nirmal Chettri but the latter brought him down just outside the box. Fatkhullo curled one perfectly as Nandy’s desperate late dive wasn’t enough to prevent a second goal. The home team scored the third and final goal in the third minute of stoppage time as Akhtam cashed in on another defensive lapse.