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<p data-start="107" data-end="310"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">India&rsquo;s U23 men&rsquo;s football team squandered the lead twice and ultimately suffered a 3-2 defeat against hosts Tajikistan in a friendly match held at the TALCO Arena in Tursunzoda on Wednesday.</span></p>
<p data-start="312" data-end="678"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Suhail Ahmad Bhat (33&rsquo;) and Parthib Sundar Gogoi (85&rsquo;) scored for India, but their efforts were canceled out by goals from Ansor Khabibov (59&rsquo;) and Muhammadiqbol Davlatov (90+1&rsquo;). The decisive blow came in injury time when Muhammadali Azizboev (90+5&rsquo;) netted the winner. India were down to 10 men after midfielder Ayush Chhetri was sent off early in the second half.</span></p>
<p data-start="680" data-end="922"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The match began with both sides creating chances, with India&rsquo;s Vinith Venkatesh coming close off a cross from Mohammed Sanan. Tajikistan&rsquo;s first real threat came on the half-hour mark, but Faridun Davlav&rsquo;s header from a free-kick sailed over.</span></p>
<p data-start="924" data-end="1103"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">India struck first through a swift counterattack. Macarton Louis Nickson delivered a sharp cross from the right, which Suhail converted with a one-touch finish in the 33rd minute.</span></p>
<p data-start="1105" data-end="1326"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tajikistan responded with mounting pressure before the break, but India&rsquo;s defense held firm. Goalkeeper Priyansh Dubey made crucial interventions, and a late first-half header from Faridun was blocked by a packed defense.</span></p>
<p data-start="1328" data-end="1571"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The second half mirrored the first in intensity until Ayush Chhetri received his second yellow card, reducing India to 10 men. Tajikistan quickly capitalized, with Khabibov leveling the score in the 59th minute off a cross from Muso Khakhorov.</span></p>
<p data-start="1573" data-end="1741"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Despite being a man down, India regained the lead in the 85th minute. Mohammed Aimen intercepted a pass and released Gogoi, who rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home.</span></p>
<p data-start="1743" data-end="1917"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">However, India couldn&rsquo;t hold on. In stoppage time, Davlatov equalized from a set-piece, and minutes later, Azizboev headed in from a corner to complete Tajikistan&rsquo;s comeback.</span></p>
<p data-start="1919" data-end="2032" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">India now face questions about composure and defensive discipline as they regroup from this dramatic late defeat.</span></p>
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Despite leading twice, India U23 fall to 10 men and concede two goals in stoppage time vs Tajikistan

India U23 Lose 3-2 to Tajikistan in Injury-Time Blow

Despite leading twice, India U23 fall to 10 men and concede two goals in stoppage time vs Tajikistan

June 19, 2025 | 11:04 IST