CAFA Nations Cup 2025: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Saves India's 2-1 Win Over Tajikistan

Last Updated:August 29, 2025, 23:27 IST

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu starred with key saves as Khalid Jamil's India beat Tajikistan 2-1 in the CAFA Nations Cup, with goals from Anwar Ali and Sandesh Jhingan.

India beat Tajikistan 2-1 in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 (AIFF/X)

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu delivered an impressive performance with several remarkable saves, including a penalty stop, as India, under new coach Khalid Jamil, defeated higher-ranked Tajikistan 2-1 in their opening match of the CAFA Nations Cup football tournament on Friday.

World No. 133 India scored through defenders Anwar Ali (5th minute) and Sandesh Jhingan (13th minute) and then resolutely defended against the 106th ranked hosts for the remaining 75 minutes.

How India Beat Tajikistan?

Jamil, in his debut match as India’s head coach, couldn’t have hoped for a better result, and much of the credit goes to captain Gurpreet, who returned to the starting XI after being sidelined under former coach Manolo Marquez.

“Indian fans had waited for this result for a long time. I know we defended deep at times, but we are still rusty. We need to build on this win and show more character against Iran," Jhingan said in a brief interview.

A lack of quality in the attacking third remains a significant problem, but on Friday, centre-backs Anwar and Jhingan took it upon themselves to end India’s scoring drought, which had stretched to three international games, within the first 15 minutes.

The team’s organization in both attack and defence had Jamil’s signature all over it. Full-backs Rahul Bheke and Muhammed Uvais Moyikkal initially overlapped, but after scoring twice, they strangely adopted a more defensive approach.

Anwar, perhaps the Indian football team’s most valuable player at the moment, scored in the fifth minute with a header from a goalmouth scramble following a long throw-in from Uvais on the left flank.

A Tajik defender’s attempted goal-line clearance rebounded inside his own goal after hitting another player. However, the referee awarded the goal to Anwar.

The lead was doubled in the 13th minute when Anwar, after failing to control the ball with his first touch, moved to the right and delivered a left-footed swerving cross, which Bheke powerfully headed. Goalkeeper Muhriddin Hasanov could barely parry it, and Jhingan, lurking nearby, stabbed it home.

However, leading 2-0, Jamil’s men suddenly tried to close shop, giving the home team, buoyed by vocal local support, a chance to claw back into the game.

Suddenly, Bheke and Uvais weren’t as active down the flanks as they were in the first 15 minutes. The intense pressing allowed Tajikistan to find openings, and they eventually pulled one back in the 23rd minute.

Sheriddin Boboev freed Shahrom Samiev, who beat Jhingan with power and speed before placing the ball to the left of a surging Gurpreet to make it 1-2.

India’s central midfield was virtually non-existent during this period, with Suresh Singh Wangjam and Lallianzuala Chhangte making little impact.

The start of the second half was even more challenging for the Indians as Gurpreet was kept busy with several goal-bound attempts that he managed to keep out.

The Indian head coach made three changes in the second half, bringing in East Bengal’s Naorem Mahesh Singh as an attacking wing half, Nikhil Prabhu as a defensive screen, and Danish Farooq to complement him.

However, Tajikistan’s high-line style of play left very little space, and Indian forwards Vikram Partap Singh and Irfan Yadawad were mostly spectators for much of the match, partly due to the central midfield not providing them with enough balls and focusing more on containing Tajik attackers.

During a wave of Tajikistan attacks, they eventually earned a penalty when Vikram Partap had a hand on Tajikistan striker Rustam Soirov’s shoulder, causing him to fall inside the box.

However, Gurpreet dived to his right, and his long legs prevented Soirov’s spot-kick.

In the 85th minute, Naorem Mahesh’s left-footed pile driver off a counter was saved by Hasanov.

Towards the end, Gurpreet once again made a stunning save, his fifth of the second half.

(With inputs from PTI)

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin...Read More

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin...

Read More

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First Published:

August 29, 2025, 23:27 IST

News sports CAFA Nations Cup 2025: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Saves India's 2-1 Win Over Tajikistan

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