Chhetri finds it difficult to swallow, coach says deserved more after Oman loss

Indian captain Sunil Chhetri found it difficult to accept while coach Igor Stimac called it a "shame" after they lost to Oman despite taking lead in their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifications opening fixture, here on Thursday.

Chhetri's splendid first-half strike went in vain as India surrendered a one-goal advantage to lose the home-leg game 1-2.

"It is difficult to swallow. I think we didn't keep the ball in the second half. It's not easy if we keep giving the ball to a team like Oman. That's something we need to work on. The boys fought really well," Chhetri said.

Stimac said they deserved more from the opening fixture.

"I was repeating at half time 'don't let this go'. One silly mistake in the distance and it became two mistakes. We were punished. So late in the game to lose the points which could have given us points to fight for the second place," Stimac said.

He was "gutted" after seeing his team concede two goals in the last eight minutes of the match.

"I think we deserved more, at least a point for the first half. We dominated the first half. We created many chances and could have killed the game in the first half. Not lucky with shots."
"We knew Sandhesh will face problem with his injury. So we will lose shape in the balance. We could not take out five and put another five."
"There were some good individual performances. I think we gave the ball away too much (difference from the first half). The mentality probably set in that we had to hold the 1-0 lead."