New Delhi, Sept. 1 -- The Indian football team kept their third-place hopes alive despite going down 0-3 to Asian powerhouse Iran in their second Group B game of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan on Monday. After their opening win over Tajikistan, expectations were high from Khalid Jamil's boys, but they succumbed to pressure in the second half, conceding all the three goals.

From their 2-1 win over Tajikistan in the previous match, India made two changes, bringing in Danish Farooq and Nikhil Prabhu in place of Lallianzuala Chhangte and Jeakson Singh. The Indian players were resolute in the first half, with the defensive line frustrating the Iranians.

However, things changed at the stroke of an hour ma...