Tajikistan avenged their 2008 AFC Challenge Cup final defeat at the hands of India when the Central Asians won their 2012 edition opener 2-0 at the Dashrath Stadium on Friday.
The Indians started well and could have gone ahead in the 15th minute when Sushil Kumar Singh's through pass inside the area found Sunil Chhetri alone but his weak shot failed to find the target.
Two minutes later, Sushil Kumar fed Rocus Lamare from the left but the Indian midfielder's shot was well stopped by Tajikistan goalkeeper Alisher Tuychiev.
Two minutes later, Sushil Kumar fed Rocus Lamare from the left but the Indian midfielder's shot was well stopped by Tajikistan goalkeeper Alisher Tuychiev.
Chhetri could have drawn first blood a minute later when he received a long pass from midfield but with only Eraj Rajabov to beat but the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup final MVP opted to pass it for Anthony Pereira who shot wildly out.
India kept up the pressure while the Tajiks were restricted to a few speculative long range shots, which largely untroubled custodian Karanjit Singh.
On the half hour mark, Sushil Kumar fed a short pass just on the edge of the area to Chhetri only for the striker to shoot over the bar.
Six minutes before the half time interval, Anthony Pareira cleverly let the ball through to Chhetri on a counter attack but Tajikistan keeper Tuychiev sensed the danger and raced 50 yards out to avert the impending threat with timely clearance.
Tajikistan had their first real chance in the 53rd minute when striker Farkhod Tokhirov received a pass inside the area from midfielder Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev only for the forward to shoot straight into the hands of Indian keeper Karanjit.
However, the Tajiks didn't have to wait long and opened the scoring six minutes later when India defender Gouramangi Singh failed to clear the danger and the ball fell Akhtam Khamrakulov, who converted from close range
However, the Tajiks didn't have to wait long and opened the scoring six minutes later when India defender Gouramangi Singh failed to clear the danger and the ball fell Akhtam Khamrakulov, who converted from close range
India suddenly appeared vulnerable and four minutes later it could have been 2-0 only for defender Samir Naik to clear Khamrakulov's shot after Karanjit was beaten.
But Nuriddin Davronov did make it 2-0 for the Tajiks in the 66th minute when he converted a powerful shot from just outside the box.
But Nuriddin Davronov did make it 2-0 for the Tajiks in the 66th minute when he converted a powerful shot from just outside the box.
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