SAF Football: India held goalless

The Indian football team got stuck in the muck and was held to a goalless draw by a lowly Afghanistan in their SAF Games opener at the muddy Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.

India will play against Nepal in their next Pool B match on Wednesday.

A sparse crowd, intermittent drizzle and muddy ground at the stadium resulted in a pathetic display and maintaining balance seemed the most daunting task. While the dirt all over the players' jerseys told the entire story, altogether five attempts were made on target by both the teams without any success.

India had a slight edge in the first half but their moves died a premature death in the midfield muddle. In the 37th minute, skipper Zadinmawia Hmar's ambitious right footer crashed into the Afghan side net and that was the only highlight in the mundane first half.

The Afghan side raised its game after the breather an M Salal's curling left-footer caught the Indian defence napping before custodian Shilton Paul thwarted the move.

India too could have scored in the 76th minute when an unmarked Beevan Karol de Mellow had a world of time and the Afghan custodian at his disposal but he couldn't connect a cross and the ball rolled by the goal post.

Suddenly the Afghans sprung into action and the Indian defence looked vulnerable. On two occasions, the Indians almost got trapped in their off-side traps but Bashir, who was otherwise in sparkling form, was the culprit on both occasion. On last occasion, an inch-perfect cross had the striker in a one-to-one with Shilton but he lost cool and shot it over and wide.

A dejected India coach Islam Akhmedov was visibly upset and said he didn't expect his side do better.

''On this kind of ground, you can't expect quality soccer. Our boys tried well but the ground made life difficult for all,'' he told UNI after the match.

The coach admitted that striker Vimal Pariyar, who was later replaced by Lalramluaha, was off-colour. ''But I don't think I can blame him.

"He tried his best but could not score,'' he argued.

He also confessed that the defence tended to crumble down towards the end.

''We have to seriously think about the off-side trap. The entire defence stood in one line and was looking at the linesman. This is just not done,'' he added.