India, Aug. 30 -- Defenders making the difference in both penalty boxes in India's 2-1 win against Tajikistan was proof of Khalid Jamil making an impact in his first match as head coach.

Sandesh Jhingan scored after Tajikistan goalkeeper Muhriddin Hasanov parried Rahul Bheke's sharp header following an accurate left-foot cross from Anwar Ali. That's a centre-back sending a delivery for the right-back whose header was followed up by another centre-back. The first goal has been marked an own-goal but it was Ali's powerful goal-bound header, after a long throw from left-back Muhammed Uvais and the massive frame of Jhingan triggered chaos in the box, which had led to the botched goalline clearance.

It would have been the perfect birthday gi...