Published 18:20 IST, November 15th 2019
World Cup Qualifiers: India's qualification status after another draw
World Cup Qualifiers: India remain winless in Group E after another draw, this time to Afghanistan as hopes of a qualification diminish after every match.
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Although India scored yet another late goal to avoid a loss against Afghanistan on Thursday, it makes little to no difference to their World Cup qualifying campaign. India's winless run in the World Cup Qualifiers extended to six matches after this result. India are currently placed fourth in Group E, just above Bangladesh, with 3 points from 4 matches.
FULL-TIME! And that's the end of that! The referee blows the whistle, as the two teams share the spoils.
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 14, 2019
🇦🇫 1-1 🇮🇳#AFGIND ⚔ #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ #BlueTigers 🐯 pic.twitter.com/cJwafhDRCq
World Cup Qualifiers: Afghanistan vs India
Despite starting the game on the front foot, India allowed Afghanistan to settle into the game. Afghanistan capitalised and opened the scoring at the stroke of half-time through Zelfagar Nazary. As an away defeat was looming large for Igor Stimac's men, super-sub Seiminlen Doungel headed in his first goal for India to equalize in the 93rd minute to share the spoils at the Central Republic Stadium in Dushanbe.
World Cup Qualifiers: India so far
The goal from Doungel helped India maintain their spotless away record in the competition although it meant that India's winless run in the World Cup qualifiers extended to six matches.
India had lost to Oman 1-2 at home in their group stage opener before playing out 0-0 and 1-1 draws against Qatar and Bangladesh respectively. They then played out another draw with Afghanistan to remain winless in the campaign. They are currently placed fourth in Group E just above Bangladesh with three points from four matches. Afghanistan, on the other hand, sit on third with four points from four matches.
Group E standings
| Team | Played | Win | Loss | Draw | Points |
| Qatar | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Oman | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Afghanistan | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| India | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Bangladesh | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
World Cup Qualifiers: India World Cup dream
India's chances of qualifying for the World Cup are diminishing with every match but they still have a mathematical chance of making it to the next round. With four games remaining, if India can churn some valuable wins, they can theoretically catch up with Qatar and Oman. India face Oman next and will be in absolute need for a win there to keep their qualification hopes alive. Though the odds are against them, the World Cup dream for India remains alive as of now.
09:58 IST, November 15th 2019