Hisor, Tajikistan, August 29, 2025
India secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Tajikistan in their opening match of the CAFA Nations Cup football tournament, with goalkeeper and captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s stunning saves proving to be the difference. The win marks a historic moment for Indian football and a dream start for new head coach Khalid Jamil, who began his tenure with a rare away victory against a higher-ranked opponent.
Headlines
* Dream Start for Jamil: New coach Khalid Jamil’s first match in charge of the Indian team ends in a significant win against a formidable opponent.
* Early Goals Set the Tone: India took a commanding lead early in the first half with goals from defenders Anwar Ali and Sandesh Jhingan.
* Gurpreet’s Penalty Heroics: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a crucial second-half penalty save to deny Tajikistan the equalizer and preserve India’s lead.
* Defense Holds Firm: India’s backline and goalkeeper withstood intense pressure from the hosts for the majority of the match to secure the victory.
The match at Hisor Central Stadium began with a fast-paced start for India. The Blue Tigers took an early lead in the 5th minute through defender Anwar Ali, who capitalized on a long throw-in. Eight minutes later, Sandesh Jhingan doubled the lead with a tap-in after a powerful header from Rahul Bheke was parried by the goalkeeper. The two goals came as a shock to the 106th-ranked hosts, who had been expected to dominate the match.
However, Tajikistan quickly rallied, pulling a goal back in the 23rd minute through a powerful strike by Shahrom Samiev. The goal shifted the momentum of the game, and for the rest of the match, India found themselves under immense and sustained pressure from the hosts. The Indian team’s defense, led by the center-back pairing of Anwar and Jhingan, was put to the test, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was forced to make a series of outstanding saves to keep his team in the lead.
The most crucial moment of the game came in the second half when Tajikistan was awarded a penalty. Rustam Soirov stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Gurpreet, in a moment of sheer brilliance, dived to his right and used his legs to block the shot, preserving India’s one-goal advantage. The save was a significant turning point, deflating the hosts and boosting the morale of the Indian side.
Despite the relentless attacks from Tajikistan, the Indian defense held firm. Gurpreet made several more impressive saves throughout the second half, solidifying his status as the man of the match. The victory, the first for India against Tajikistan in 17 years, is a significant confidence booster for the team and a positive sign for the new era under coach Khalid Jamil.
