Bengaluru: India went down 1-2 to Oman in their opening Group ‘D’ encounter of the preliminary 2018 World Cup qualifier second round tie at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Thursday. Qasim Said’s opener after 20 seconds and Imad Al Hosni’s spot kick on either side of a Sunil Chhetri stunner earned three points for the traveling side.
The hosts failed to take the chances that came their way and were guilty of being wasteful with possession with their long hoofs down the field often hit more with hope than purpose. Head coach Stephen Constantine handed debuts to three of the four in his backline with Bengaluru FC duo Lalchhuanmawia and Rino Anto starting as wing backs while Leihaorungbam Dhanachandra Singh partnered captain Arnab Mondal in the centre.
