India Suffer Heartbreak in 2-1 Defeat to Qatar in U-23 Asian Cup Qualifier

The Indian U-23 football team's dreams of creating history took a significant blow as they fell 2-1 to hosts Qatar in a thrilling Group H encounter of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on Saturday, September 6, 2025.

India began the match with an attacking intent, nearly taking an early lead when starboy Muhammed Suhail's long range effort in the second minute sailed just inches over the crossbar. However, it was Qatar who got the lead in the 18^th minute through Al Hashmi Mohialdin, whose looping header from a corner found the top corner after bouncing off the ground.

Despite trailing, India showed resilience and created many chances. Parthib Gogoi's dangerous cross from the right in the 41^st minute troubled the Qatari defense, while Mohammed Sannan whipped in a promising cross toward Macarton Louis Nickson just before half time, but Qatar goalkeeper Ali Mohammed Ghulais put out a strong hand to deny him.

In the second half the young Indian team came out with a clear intention of getting their team back on level terms and their persistence paid off in the 52^nd minute. Macarton Louis Nickson intercepted possession in midfield and played Suhail through on the right. Though Suhail's initial cross was overhit, the ball fell kindly to Sannan on the opposite flank, who delivered a pinpoint cross that Suhail met with a powerful header at the far post to score and equalize the game. The momentum shifted drastically in the 67^th minute when disaster struck for India. Defender Pramveer Singh, already on a yellow card, was penalized for a foul on Noureldin Ibrahim inside the penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot and issued Pramveer his second yellow card, reducing India to ten men. Qatar captain Jassem Al Sharshani stepped up and confidently converted the penalty despite goalkeeper Sahil diving on the right side. Despite being a man down, India refused to surrender. Sahil produced an acrobatic save in the 80^th minute to deny Abdulaziz Hasan and keep India in the game. India nearly snatched an equalizer deep into stoppage time when Mohammed Aimen's corner found an unmarked Chingangbam Shivaldo Singh at the far post, but his header was off target.

The victory now takes Qatar to the top of Group H with six points from two matches and a commanding +14 goal difference. India remain on three points alongside Bahrain, but sit second due to their superior head to head record. With only group winners and the four best second placed teams from 11 groups qualifying for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 in Saudi Arabia, India's qualification hopes now depend heavily on securing a convincing victory against Brunei in their final group fixture on September 9, 2025.