India captain Sunil Chhetri on Wednesday said the team’s underwhelming draw in the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Bangladesh was no match to the electrifying atmosphere at the Salt Lake Stadium here.
A last-gasp Adil Khan header saved India the blushes as the higher-ranked fancied host struggled to a 1-1 draw here on Tuesday night, disappointing thousands of heads totting the stands at the mecca of Indian football.
Hours after the game that turned out to be the team’s worst of the campaign so far, Chhetri expressed his disappointment.
“We couldn’t deliver a performance to match the atmosphere at the Salt Lake last night, and the dressing room is very disappointed about it,” Chhetri tweeted.
He said the team couldn’t make use of the opportunities, but no less mediocre was India’s defending.
“We couldn’t capitalise on the chances we got, but this is a process on the pitch and in the stands. You turned up, we’ll keep attempting to.”
India came into the game high on confidence after holding Asian champion Qatar to a goalless draw away. However, the result was far from what Igor Stimac’s wards had expected in the run-up to the match.
Saad Uddin gave Bangladesh the lead in the 42nd minute and the visitor looked like going back home with all the three points in the Group E match of the qualifying second round.
Adil, however, ensured that India secured a point from the home game as he rose high to nod home a Brandon Fernandes corner kick in the 88th minute.
For Adil, however, it was a special moment to score the equaliser.
“I cannot explain the emotions that were coursing through my veins when I headed that in. My father went into a heart surgery about the same time that the match kicked off,” he said.
“On top of that, it was my first goal for India. It will forever be a special moment for me. I would like to dedicate this goal to my family -- my father and my wife. I would also like to thank all the fans who were there, and made that moment even more special. Thank you all for turning up in numbers.”
Midfielder Anirudh Thapa said, “As a footballer, it is the matches and atmosphere like this that we live for. We could not get the result that you all (fans) have been hoping for, but we will keep working hard to do better in the future.”
India had lost to Oman 1-2 in its opening match before the big result against Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host.
India has two points from three matches, while Bangladesh stays at the bottom with one point from three outings.
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