India into third-place playoff at CAFA Nations Cup with goalless draw against Afghanistan

India continue to remain without a win against Afghanistan in three attempts over the last three years as their final CAFA Nations Cup group stage game finished goalless. The draw proved enough for Khalid Jamil's side to secure second place in their group with four points. Tajikistan joined India on four points after drawing Iran 2-2, but lost out on head-to-head record, having lost 1-2 to India earlier.

India will play the third-place playoff on September 08 - a far cry from the pre-tournament predictions of a group-stage exit - a superb first outing for India's new coach.

Editor's Picks

• 

  India battle hard but lose 0-3 to Iran in 2025 CAFA Nations Cup

  4dAnirudh Menon

• 

  CAFA Nations Cup: Amid off-field challenges aplenty, Indian football's Khalid Jamil era begins on field

  8dSunaadh Sagar

• 

  India is desperate for inspiration, stubborn trailblazer Khalid Jamil can provide it

  34dSunaadh Sagar

Jamil's words to the cameras before the game were simple enough: "We are prepared for this match. It is an important match. We must think positive and get a positive result." India started off with a high-energy press, with Ashique Kuruniyan, Irfan Yadwad and Mahesh Singh harrying the Afghanistan defenders at every opportunity. With both teams adopting a compact, circumspect approach however, chances were few and far between in the first half.

Yadwad had perhaps the best of chances that a more clinical striker would have finished off, with Ashique finding him in space in the box with a cutback, only for the striker to slip and fall while attempting a shot with his left foot. Later, Afghanistan's trouble when clearing the ball saw the ball bounce to Yadwad in the box, and with acres of space he fluffed a shot wide, although the referee had blown for a foul.

Ashique also came close after winning the ball in Afghanistan's box but Faisal Hamidi in the Afghan goal was quick to get to the ball. Afghanistan were reduced to pot-shots from range which Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saved with ease as the first half finished goalless.

Jamil attempted to freshen things up by bringing on Manvir Singh and Vikram Partap Singh at half-time, with the former bullying the Afghan defenders but found no joy from the ref. India did almost find a breakthrough when Manvir sent Jithin through on goal with a superb pass, but Hamidi rushed out to prevent the Indian winger from getting to it.

Gurpreet also had to be similarly alert to prevent 18-year-old Afghanistan debutant Habibullah Hotak from scoring from a long pass forward, but the forward was ruled offside as Gurpreet cleared anyway. Vincenzo Annese's second half substitutes had made a difference, and almost found the winner in the 70th minute for Afghanistan.

Alireza Panahi did well to hold off Uvais down Afghanistan's right wing, got to the byline and sent a low cutback just begging to be turned into the net. Yama Sherzad obliged, with a first-time shot that looked destined to nestle into the net, only for Gurpreet to stick an arm out and make an incredible reflex save, diverting the ball onto the crossbar.

Afghanistan ramped up the pressure as the game reached it's closing stages, with Jamil's attacking changes for India not working out. A couple of set-pieces saw shots that were easily saved by Gurpreet and India held on for the draw, and a shot at third place in the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup.

You can relive all the action on our live blog: