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Home  » Sports » FIFA WC qualifiers: Tiny Guam slay 'sleeping giants' India

FIFA WC qualifiers: Tiny Guam slay 'sleeping giants' India

June 16, 2015 15:10 IST
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Indian football team

Indian football team pose before the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Guam. Photograph: Facebook

India suffered yet another defeat in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as they lost 2-1 against Guam at the GFA National Training Center, Harmon in Hagatna.

Guam maintained their fairytale start to World Cup qualifying to jump to the top of Group D after their second win in a week.

Brandon McDonald and Travis Nicklaw scored the goals as the US territory in the North Pacific Ocean with a population of little more than 170,000 followed up their first ever qualifying win on Thursday against Turkmenistan with another.

India, boasting a population of 1.2 billion and long dubbed the sleeping giants of world football by FIFA, snatched a 93rd minute consolation when skipper Sunil Chhetri bagged his 50th international goal but it was too little too late.

India had lost its first match 2-1 as well, going down at home to a strong Omani side. India will next face Iran on September 8.

Guam, coached by Englishman Gary White, now have six points from two matches in the pool, ahead of Oman who beat India away on Thursday.

Guam, ranked 174th by FIFA, face a return to Iran in their next qualifying match in September.

India will next face Iran on September 8.

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