India U23’s spirited display ended in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat against Tajikistan U23 in an international friendly in Tashkent.
Summary : India U-23 put in a spirited display but fell 3-2 to Tajikistan in a friendly, conceding twice in stoppage time after leading 2-1. Suhail Bhat and Parthib Gogoi scored for India, who looked sharp and composed before a 58th-minute red card to Ayush Chhetri shifted momentum. Playing with 10 men, India defended bravely but a late collapse denied them a hard-earned win. Despite the result, the team showed promise, with strong attacking moments and commitment, indicating a brighter future for this more experienced and technically balanced U-23 side.
Playing nearly half an hour with 10 men, the young Blue Colts showed resilience and attacking flair, but two stoppage-time goals from the hosts sealed a dramatic win for Tajikistan.
Despite the result, the match was an encouraging performance from India’s new-look U-23 side, who looked composed, creative, and competitive for most of the 90 minutes. With emerging stars like Suhail Bhat and Parthib Gogoi finding the net, India looked poised for a statement victory—until discipline and inexperience caught up with them in the final stretch.
Bright Start and Signs of Promise
The match kicked off with energy and intent from both sides, but it was India who looked more settled in possession. The Indian midfield, led by the likes of Ayush Chhetri and Ricky Shabong, controlled large phases of the first half with crisp passing and quick transitions.
It wasn’t long before India’s pressure paid off. Talented forward Suhail Bhat, who has been making waves in domestic football, found the net with a well-placed finish—living up to the expectations many have placed on his shoulders. His goal gave India a 1-0 lead and showcased why he is widely regarded as one of the best attacking prospects in Indian football.
However, Tajikistan responded soon after with an equalizer, leveling the game at 1-1 before half-time. The goal came as a result of a lapse in defensive marking—an area where this Indian side still needs to tighten up.
A Red Card That Changed Everything
India started the second half on the front foot. Despite the equalizer, the Blue Colts were unfazed and continued to push. Their efforts were rewarded in the 85th minute when Parthib Gogoi unleashed a superb strike to restore India’s lead at 2-1. It was a moment of brilliance from the young attacker, whose confidence and decision-making in the final third stood out.
But just when things seemed to be going India’s way, the match took a dramatic turn.
Ayush Chhetri, one of the standout performers until then, received a red card in the 58th minute, reducing India to ten men. The nature of the challenge and the decision itself was debated among fans, but what wasn’t in doubt was how much the sending-off impacted India’s control of the game. From that moment on, the team was forced to dig deep, defending in numbers and relying on counters.
A Defiant Stand… Until the End
Playing a man down, India held firm for over 30 minutes. The backline, led by Bikash Yumnam and Hormipam Ruivah, showed commitment in clearing dangerous balls, while the midfield dropped deep to protect the space. The young side looked set to pull off a gutsy win in hostile conditions.
But fatigue and inexperience began to creep in. In the dying minutes of injury time, Tajikistan capitalized on a tiring Indian defense, scoring twice in quick succession to snatch the win.
It was a gut-wrenching blow for the Indian side, who had given everything despite the numerical disadvantage. The 3-2 final score doesn’t fully reflect the story of the game where India matched and often bettered their opponents for large stretches.
Questions in Goal, But Clear Progress Elsewhere
One talking point was India’s goalkeeper. The 18-year-old custodian was making his debut at this level and looked raw under pressure. While it is a big leap to go from youth football to the U-23 international stage, these matches are part of that growth journey. The late goals were not entirely his fault, but he will need more seasoning before being relied upon consistently in crunch games.
That said, the rest of the squad showed encouraging signs. The attacking unit created chances, the midfield worked tirelessly, and the defensive line was largely organized until the final moments.
A Brighter Future Ahead?
There is growing belief that this current U-23 batch is more complete and technically sound than recent editions. Many players have ISL and I-League experience, and their exposure at youth levels has helped raise their tactical awareness and mental toughness.
Suhail, Parthib, and Ayush are names to watch, and with more international matches, this core can potentially break new ground for India’s Olympic or Asian Games ambitions.
India U-23 may have lost on the scoreboard, but in spirit and performance, they offered a glimpse into a promising future. The heartbreak of conceding late goals after leading 2-1 will sting, but such matches are part of the learning curve for a young team growing into international football.
As coach and staff reflect on this match, they’ll likely take heart from the resilience shown, the goals scored from open play, and the hunger on display—even with 10 men. If properly nurtured, this group may finally achieve what previous U-23 batches couldn’t: qualification for major international tournaments.
Final Score: Tajikistan U-23 3-2 India U-23
Goals for India: Suhail Bhat (1st Half), Parthib Gogoi (85’)
Red Card: Ayush Chhetri (58’)
