India held Asian champions Qatar to a 0-0 draw in Doha to produce one of the most stunning results in the history of Indian football. The result also helped them open their account in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu pulled off a number of brilliant saves as India rode their luck to take home a precious point from Qatar.
Unlike the old times, India carried a threat on the counter and were able to play the ball out from the back even under intense pressure. The outlet on the break was key as it allowed India to regroup as Qatar threw the kitchen sink at the visitors.
In the end, the frustrated Qatar players lost their heads allowing India to close the game and keep the scoreline at 0-0.
Twitter soon went into a frenzy as Indian football faithful could barely believe what they had seen!
Here are some of the best reactions from the match, starting from the Indian captain Sunil Chhetri, who was a spectator in this game.
Dear India, THAT is my team and THOSE are my boys! Cannot describe how proud I am at this moment. Not a big result for the table, but in terms of a fight, as big as it can get. Huge credit to the coaching staff and the dressing room. #QATIND
— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) September 10, 2019
Man of the hour👊🏽🔥@GurpreetGK 💯🤩
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 10, 2019
.#QATIND ⚔ #WCQ 🌏🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/wXiDWthU6B
Massive result for Indian football. Shows that determination, courage and hard work can match skill and quality. Will be disappointed if this doesn’t make the main news in the sports pages tomorrow. Well done, boys. The journey has just begun! #QATIND
— Indranil Das Blah (@indranildasblah) September 10, 2019
What a result! 💪🏻 India have ground out a 0-0 at Asian champions Qatar. Big result which did seem impossible after 1-2 loss to Oman and without Sunil Chhetri in the XI tonight. Such relentless and dogged defending & safe goalkeeping (😱)! We can do with that more often. #QATIND
— Akarsh Sharma (@Akarsh_Official) September 10, 2019
The attitude of the #BlueTigers today in one GIF! 💙@IndianFootball#QATIND #WCQ #BackTheBlue #PoduMachiGoalu pic.twitter.com/e8SI4wwH1y
— Chennaiyin FC 🏆🏆 (@ChennaiyinFC) September 10, 2019
A PHENOMENAL performance from our #MenInBlue tonight as they hold the Asian Champions level in Doha!
— Kerala Blasters FC (@KeralaBlasters) September 10, 2019
A truly unforgettable night for all of us 💙
The dream continues 💪#QATIND #WCQ2022 #BackTheBlue pic.twitter.com/YEPLK6yRVd
To be the only side not to lose to Qatar in Asia in 2019. To be the only side to keep a clean sheet against them in 2019. To do it in their den. To do it without your greatest player. The kids are alright @stimac_igor and so is your man mountain @GurpreetGK! #IndianFootball
— Anant Tyagi (@AnanTyagi_) September 10, 2019
Awesome team effort to grind out a great result by @IndianFootball. Congratulations to @stimac_igor and the staff! @GurpreetGK one of the best GK's in Asia!! #QATIND 🇮🇳
— Mandar Tamhane (@MandarTamhane1) September 10, 2019
BIG point after a brilliant all-round performance from @IndianFootball today. So, so proud! #QATIND #FIFAWCQ2022 🇮🇳
— CK Vineeth (@ckvineeth) September 10, 2019
Unbelievable performance from @IndianFootball against the @afcasiancup champions. 🇮🇳 @GurpreetGK, simply wow! 🙌 #QATIND #FIFAWCQ2022
— Rino Anto (@rinoanto) September 10, 2019
#TeamIndia makes #IndianFootball proud with a warrior like a performance in the absence of inspirational Sunil Chhetri.
— Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) September 10, 2019
Our players deserve thunderous applause.
To hold Asian Champions #Qatar at their home was the most difficult match of the #WorldCupQualifiers #QATIND
What a fight !
— Ashutosh_mehta1 (@Ashutosh_mehta1) September 10, 2019
What an incredible performance @IndianFootball . So so proud of everyone . #QATIND
Of course, in the bigger scheme of things, a 0-0 result doesn't mean much. It is only India's first point in the #AsianQualifiers. But, for a 103-ranked side to hold a team ranked 62nd in the world, an Asian champion, to a goalless draw, is an indication of a good fight. #QATIND
— Manasi Pathak (@ThatUnitedLady) September 10, 2019
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu finally gets his 1st clean sheet of 2019 but boy wasn't it worth it.
— Aditya Warty (@AnalystAdi) September 10, 2019
Saves - 11
Claims - 9
WALL. #QATIND #BlueTigers #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #WCQ #AsianQualifiers
The trademark post-game celebration!
Clean sheet ✅
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 10, 2019
Thunder ⚡ Claps ✅
Holding the Asian Champs ✅#QATIND ⚔ #WCQ 🌏🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/wj2JAdaqfM
@GurpreetGK Today 🙌🙌🙌#QATIND @IndianFootball #BackTheBlues pic.twitter.com/j3HiYGNmU7
— Manjappada KBFC Fans (@kbfc_manjappada) September 10, 2019
A hard-fought point earned in Doha by the #BlueTigers 🐯 against the reigning Asian Champions Qatar! 🙌
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) September 10, 2019
A night to remember in @IndianFootball history! 👏💙#QATIND #WCQ #BackTheBlue #ApunKaTeam 🔵 pic.twitter.com/icAEUdguUm
Kudos to 🏹 @GurpreetGK's standout performance, Blue Tigers 🐯 notch a goalless draw against @afcasiancup champions @QFA. Congratulations, boys 🙌🏻 👏🏻#BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ ##QATIND pic.twitter.com/XLQD9I6gdI
— Hero I-League (@ILeagueOfficial) September 10, 2019
Absolutely bloody Brilliant @IndianFootball and as for @GurpreetGK .......Heroic!! And in front of Xavi no less #QATIND pic.twitter.com/IH31hp1sge
— Joe Morrison (@joefooty) September 10, 2019
FULL TIME! They've matched every header and every shot at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium as our Blue Tigers claim a massive point against a mighty Qatar side. Come on, India! #QATIND #FIFAWCQ2022 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Z8kk81gzno
— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) September 10, 2019
A 'Qatar'tic night for the @IndianFootball team in Doha!
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) September 10, 2019
The #BlueTigers 💙🐯 gain a precious point in Group E by holding the reigning @afcasiancup champions to a goalless draw! #QATIND #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #WCQ #AsianQualifiers pic.twitter.com/utpoiRiRSC