Tehran: India coach Stephen Constantine described their 0-4 loss to Iran in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as a "very difficult" game for his side, which was left depleted due to injuries to key players.
India had to field a depleted side without four starting XI Players including "talismanic" skipper Sunil Chhetri at the Azadi Stadium on Thursday night.
"They controlled the game. It was a very difficult game for us even before it kicked-off. In the first half, we conceded from a penalty and had two Players coming out for injury. It made it all the more difficult for us," Constantine said at the post-match Media interaction.
"We are a very young side. One boy made his International debut today and he will never forget the fact that he played his first International match at the Azadi Stadium against Iran," Constantine said, referring to Udanta Singh who became the 23rd Player in the last one year to make his International debut under the coach.
"We tried to contain Iran and paid the price for some mistakes. We were short in some areas and paid the price for that. Iran are one of the Best Teams in Asia and playing at the Azadi Stadium has its own challenges."
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, however, heaped lavish praise on young and brave India, who will next face Turkmenistan at home in Kochi on March 29.
"I was very much surprised by Team India's display. There has been a vast improvement in their performance over the last few months," he said.
On the field, India conceded two goals through penalties and were forced to make two substitutions in the first half itself.
The two penalties were converted by captain Ehsan Haji (33rd and 66th); and one each from Sardar Azmoun (61st) and Alireza Jahan (78th) settled it for Team Melli. Iran led one-nil at the half time.
India will leave from Tehran this evening and will arrive in Kochi on March 26.
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