India's World Cup Dreams Crushed by Controversial Goal

India's World Cup qualifying dreams were shattered in Doha after a controversial goal allowed Qatar to snatch a 2-1 victory. Coach Igor Stimac expressed outrage over the "irregular" goal, claiming it "killed" his team's aspirations.

India took an early lead but Qatar equalized with a goal that Stimac vehemently disputed. Replays confirmed that the ball had crossed the line before being dragged back into play. "It shouldn't be happening in today's football," Stimac lamented. "It changed everything."

Despite the setback, Stimac praised his players' efforts. "They were fantastic," he said. "We controlled the game for a major part." However, he acknowledged India's shortcomings in the attacking third. "We should have scored thrice in the first half," he said. "There's something missing in Indian football, and that's clinical reactions inside the box."

Qatar's equalizer deflated India's momentum, and they conceded a second goal in the 85th minute. The loss ended India's hopes of reaching the third round of World Cup qualifying and direct qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Stimac expressed disappointment but congratulated Qatar. "It's kind of an injustice to my boys," he said. "We were very close to winning this game and qualifying for the third round."

India's bid for the Asian Cup will now continue in the Third Round of Qualifiers, scheduled for March 2025. Stimac remains optimistic despite the setback. "We have a young team with a lot of potential," he said. "We will learn from this experience and come back stronger."

Tags: #IndiaFootball, #WorldCupQualifiers, #Qatar, #IgorStimac, #ControversialGoal