India held by Uzbekistan in opening AFC eAsian Cup 2023 tie

Indian eFootball National Team settled for two points on opening day of AFC eAsian Cup 2023 as y were held 1-1 by Uzbekistan in both legs of ir Group B tie on Thursday, February 1, 2023, at Virtuocity in Doha, Qatar.

first-ever AFC eAsian Cup is being played on Konami’s eFootball 2024 on PS5 consoles. 20 participating teams have been divided into four groups of three teams and two groups of four. Each team comprises two main players and one substitute. matches last 12 minutes and are played in a 2v2 format.

In group stage, each team plays two matches against every or team in its group. Like ongoing AFC Asian Cup, top two teams from each group, alongside four best third-place finishers, will qualify for knockout stage. Syria, who lost 0-2 and 0-1 to Uzbekistan in ir opening tie, are third and final team in Group B.

India, represented by Hemanth Krishna Kommu, Ibrahim Gulrez and Charanjot Singh, took on Akmal Abduvaliyev, Salokhiddin Esanov and Rashid Khakimov of Uzbekistan to open ir AFC eAsian Cup 2023 campaign.

Lining up with pairing of Ibrahim and Hemanth in first leg, India started off brightly, opening scoring in 17th minute as Lalengmawia Ralte heed in Sahal Abdul Sam's corner. eTigers dominated rest of proceedings but couldn't find elusive second goal. Uzbekistan me m pay as y equalised in final stages of game through Azizbek Turgunboev in 92nd minute.

India me a substitution ahe of second leg, with Charanjot replacing Hemanth. But that didn't change positive attacking intent of eTigers as y once again took le in first half after a brilliant finish from Manvir Singh in 34th minute. However, Uzbekistan found ir equaliser not long into second half as Igor Sergeyev capitalised on a defensive mishap from Indians.

That meant Uzbekistan finished Day 1 on top of Group B with eight points, followed by India with two and Syria with none. eTigers will face Syria at 16:30 IST on Friday, February 2 in ir last Group B tie. round of 16 and quarter-finals will be held on February 4, followed by semi-finals and final on February 5.