Oman 1-0 India: 5 Talking Points & Tactical Analysis

India went down to Oman 1-0 in Muscat in a FIFA World Cup qualifier. The hosts started the better of the two sides and stamped their authority on the encounter instantly, by virtue of hogging the ball. They kept surveying for possible opportunities to hurt India and that eventually arrived in the 33rd minute.

A wonderful through ball by Mohsin Al-Khaldi turned the Blue Tigers’ defence inside out and Mushin Al-Ghassani applied the finishing touches with a beautiful side-footed stroke of the right boot.

After the restart, India looked slightly better all across the pitch but they failed to muster enough clear-cut chances, meaning that Oman sat back on their lead and saw the game out.

Here is a look at the talking points from the match.

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#5 Oman edge ahead in an extremely scrappy first half

Muhsen Al-Ghassani (R) got the opener

India and Oman came into the game on the back of contrasting results. While the hosts thumped Bangladesh 4-1, the Blue Tigers had to fight tooth and nail to emerge with a point against Afghanistan. Thus, both sides represented two different sides of the coin, meaning that several expected a lop-sided beginning to the match.

However, even though the home side dominated possession, they didn’t particularly click into gear, thereby giving rise to an extremely scrappy period. The hosts enjoyed the lion’s share of the ball but never managed to generate the adequate head of steam to trouble India’s rear-guard on a regular basis.

Oman’s build-up play looked a tad lethargic in the defensive and middle third as they kept pinging the ball across the pitch without really threatening. And, while there were moments of encouragement for the hosts, they were largely uninspiring with their attacking play.

India, meanwhile, were content to sit back and defend in a deep defensive block. In the process, they ceded territory and possession to the home side, a ploy that worked for the opening half-hour, before the visitors shot themselves in the foot. Consequently, Al-Ghassani made the net ripple as Oman surged ahead.

Apart from the goal though, the only other notable bit of action was a missed penalty by the hosts’ No.16 when he rocketed the ball into the top-tier from the spot.

Throughout the first period, neither side looked brave enough to make the requisite offensive movements to put the opposition under pressure. Moreover, the constant fouling from both outfits meant that the momentum was sucked out of the game rather frequently.

When the fixture list was drawn up, several expected India and Oman to indulge in a rather tense affair. Yet, one reckons not many would’ve been envisioning such a drab and dour opening 45 minutes.

#4 Igor Stimac’ selection of Adil Khan and Pronay Halder backfires

Pronay went off injured in the first half

India shuffled their defensive pack for the trip to Muscat as they fielded Ashique Kuruniyan and Nishu Kumar at left-back and right back, respectively. However, Igor Stimac decided to persist with the same central defensive and midfield pairing, meaning that Adil Khan and Pronay Halder started, despite both nursing slight niggles.

The duo began the game shakily as the latter was constantly overrun in midfield whereas the former also endured a few nervy moments at the back. More worryingly though, they looked a touch off the pace, meaning that those around them had to shoulder additional responsibility.

Consequently, the strain led to them aggravating the injuries they had been carrying, meaning that India were forced into two changes in the opening period.

While Stimac had the luxury of calling upon like-for-like replacements in Anas Edathodika and Vinit Rai, tweaks mid-way through the half usually throw a spoke in a side’s wheel. And, that was the case when the midfielder lost out on a tackle that led to the first goal.

Thus, courtesy the injuries, the Pandora’s box of players being preferred even when they weren’t 100% fit was unlocked. And, though both players represented vital cogs in the Indian wheel, their mid-game injuries certainly left India worse off.

#3 India again lacklustre in possession

Brandon Fernandes

A few days ago, against Afghanistan, India enjoyed the majority of the possession but were unable to carve out the adequate number of chances. On Tuesday though, the tables were turned as the Blue Tigers were made to work hard defensively as Oman controlled the ball and kept pushing and probing.

However, whenever the visitors got hold of the ball, they seemed bereft of ideas and severely lacked imagination. On countless occasions, Brandon Fernandes got in between the centre-backs to collect passes and distribute the play. Yet, he wasn’t accorded enough passing avenues, meaning that he had to launch aimless balls forward.

And, though that tactic worked a few times, courtesy Manvir Singh’s hold-up capabilities, it was a strategy Oman were happy defending against.

More alarmingly though, the Indians failed to showcase patience and were intent to hoof the ball into the offensive third, rather than trying to break through the hosts’ defensive line. Consequently, their forwards were left feeding off scraps.

Additionally, there was a lack of movement on the offensive players’ part, thereby enabling Oman to cut out passing lanes and prevent India from progressing vertically.

At the start of Stimac’ tenure, the Blue Tigers displayed the courage and bravery the Croatian had preached at the time of appointment. And, while those aspects come to the fore every now and then, the Indians need to start imposing that brand of football more often and against sides stronger than them.

#2 Oman just display enough offensive quality in the final third

Oman just found enough quality in the final third

For long stretches of the game, Oman looked far from the side that had made the net bulge on four occasions against Bangladesh recently. Akin to India, their approach play seemed pedestrian at times, meaning that they failed to scythe through the Blue Tigers as much as they would’ve hoped.

However, fortunately for them, they managed to dig deep into their offensive reserves and unfurl the requisite amount of quality to earn them a nervy victory.

In the 33rd minute, India gave the ball away needlessly in midfield and Mohsin Al-Khaldi capitalised. The Oman No.10 strode away from Vinit Rai and curled an exquisite through ball for Al-Ghassani. The forward evaded the attention of Adil and Ashique before composing himself to slot the ball past Gurpreet Singh Sandhu with the inside of his right boot.

Apart from the goal, Oman also created the move that led to the penalty quite well. Ali Al-Busaidi controlled the ball on the left flank and played a sumptuous slide-rule pass for Al-Ghasanni. The striker outpaced Rahul Bheke before the Indian brought him down, thereby handing the hosts a spot-kick.

Thus, on the evening, even though both sides fell short of the attacking standards they might’ve set themselves, Oman did just enough in the end. And, while that may not serve them too well moving forward, it got the job done against India on Tuesday.

#1 India’s individual mistakes cost them dear, again

Igor Stimac still has plenty of questions to answer

A common thread of India’s performances under Igor Stimac has been the Blue Tigers’ propensity to pop up with individual errors at the most inopportune of moments. Against Bangladesh, Gurpreet’s handling came under the scanner while Mandar Rao Desai was guilty of allowing Afghanistan too much room down the left wing.

And, unfortunately for India, that trend continued against Oman when they gifted the hosts a goal just after the half-hour mark.

In the 33rd minute, Brandon misplaced an easy pass, meaning that he put his midfield partner Vinit Rai under pressure. The latter failed to trap the ball properly, thereby enabling Mohsin the time and space to carve open India’s rear-guard.

The indecisive bits of action continued after the break too and the Blue Tigers had Oman and their lack of ambition to thank for the score-line remaining 1-0.

Over the past few months, there have been palpable improvements, whether it be the way India has passed the ball or has shown more valour against fancied opposition.

However, as long as they keep contriving to undo that hard work, they might not progress as swiftly as they would’ve envisaged. And, while it might still be a shade too premature to pass judgements, Stimac would be hoping that he corrects this particular pattern immediately.

Else, that could prove to be his kryptonite in the long run.