New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS) India coach Savio Medeira blamed Malaysian referee Nagor Amir for denying the hosts a genuine penalty in their 1-1 draw with Afghanistan in their opening match of the SAFF Cup football tournament at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here Saturday.
India were denied a penalty within two minutes of resumption as the players appealed for hand-ball committed by defender Moqadar Faizullah off Miranda’s flag-kick but Amir turned it down.
‘I thought their player handled the ball. The referee didn’t give a penalty which I thought he should have,’ Medeira said.
The Goan said he was happy with the 1-1 draw against Afghanistan, who are ranked 16 places behind the hosts in FIFA rankings.
‘In the first half, I thought we conceded too soon. My boys fought very well and got the important equaliser immediately. In the second half when we were going on attack, we left a few gaps in the defence and that is something we need to work on,’ he said.
Afghanistan stunned the hosts taking an early lead in the fifth minute with a brilliant strike from their Norway-based striker Balal Arezo. India didn’t wait long for the equaliser that came within five minutes with a stunning header from Sunil Chettri.
Medeira mentioned that Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua were ‘jet lagged’ as they joined the team Friday morning after trials in Glasgow but they played well.
‘When you travel to Scotland and return just a day before, the jet lag is there. But whenever we played high balls, Chhetri never allowed their defenders to get a touch. I think in the next game, you will see a better combination from them,’ he said.
Asked if it was a set-back for the defending champions to start the tournament with a draw, Medeira said: ‘The draw is certainly not a set-back of any sort. Every team comes in the competition to win. We tried but for now, I am satisfied with a point. We must not take Afghanistan lightly as they have several players who play in the Bundesliga second division. The boys stood up to what I told them and maybe we will do better in the next game.’
Afghanistan coach Mohammad Yusef Kargar was visibly happy with the draw.
‘It is good to start the tournament with a draw against India. Our team is fitter than what it was three years ago. We are improving everyday. We had few opportunities to score and could have well won the match,’ he said.
