The Khalid Jamil era of Indian football began with a hard-fought victory as the Blue Tigers defeated higher-ranked hosts Tajikistan 2-1 in their opening match of the CAFA Nations Cup on Friday. Defenders Anwar Ali and Sandesh Jhingan scored crucial first-half goals before goalkeeper and captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu emerged as the hero with a vital second-half penalty save to secure the win.
Displaying a clear tactical shift under their new coach, India took a shock 2-0 lead within the first 15 minutes, with both goals coming from set-piece situations. Anwar Ali opened the scoring in the fifth minute, heading home after a long throw-in caused chaos in the Tajik box. Less than 10 minutes later, Sandesh Jhingan doubled the lead, tapping in a rebound after a powerful header from Rahul Bheke was parried by the goalkeeper.
The hosts pulled a goal back in the 23rd minute through a sharp strike from Shahrom Samiev, which shifted the momentum of the match. For the remaining hour, Tajikistan dominated possession and launched wave after wave of attacks, putting the Indian backline under immense and sustained pressure.
In the face of the onslaught, India’s defensive organization and resilience shone through, a clear imprint of Jamil's coaching philosophy. The team maintained two disciplined lines of four, defending with a spirit and solidity that has been absent in recent times. Jamil was a constant presence on the touchline, barking orders as his players put their bodies on the line to protect their slender lead.
The match's most decisive moment came in the second half when Tajikistan were awarded a penalty. However, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who was restored to the starting lineup and handed the captain's armband by Jamil, produced a moment of brilliance. He correctly dived to his right and saved Rustam Soirov’s spot-kick with his feet, a crucial intervention that preserved India's lead and demoralized the hosts
This victory is a significant morale booster for Indian football, marking the team's first win on foreign soil in nearly two years. The result is even more impressive given that the squad was without key figures like Sunil Chhetri and players from Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who were not released by their club. It also makes Jamil the first Indian coach to win his debut match in charge since 2001.
Having started their campaign on a high, the Blue Tigers will now face their toughest challenge of the tournament. Their next group stage match is against defending champions and Asian powerhouse Iran on Monday, September 1.