India are without a win at the halfway stage of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 final round qualifiers, but miraculously, they are not out of the race either.
Reduced to ten men early in the second half after Sandesh Jhingan was sent off just after resumption, Khalid Jamil’s side was a minute away from a second consecutive loss, and almost out of contention. Singapore, however, blundered in the final minute of regulation time as Rahim Ali’s first international goal helped secure a 1-1 result in Singapore on Thursday.
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Singapore are still on top of the group with five points, three more than India’s two, but they will have a chance to make amends in the home clash next week. Hong Kong (four) and Bangladesh (one) have a game in hand.
Only the group winners qualify for the Saudi Arabia edition.
“I think it’s going to be difficult, we are just taking one game at a time,” Sunil Chhetri, who returned to the team after being left out for last month’s CAFA Nations Cup, said after the draw. “Going ten men and getting a result wasn’t easy. Just glad to be taking a point away.”
Given the circumstances, India will be delighted with a point. When Ikhsan Fandi scored in first half stoppage time for Singapore and Jhingan was sent off for a second yellow, India were left with their backs against the wall. Chances were limited, and the hosts were in the ascendancy, only to blunder right at the end. Without a shot on goal till then and ineffective upfront, India could have only scored from a defensive lapse.
India were thrown a lifeline in the 90th minute when Jordan Emaviwe casually played a ball back to goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud. Rahim pressed and the keeper’s clearance struck the feet of the India striker, who was left with an open goal to score his first international goal.
For most part, Singapore were the better team, enjoying 63 % ball possession and plenty of looks at the India goal. The hosts had several chances, only to miss, twice from handshaking distance. Ilhan Fandi had two good chances in quick succession.
At first, he shot wide, after being put under pressure by a sliding Rahul Bheke, while another attempt from a one-on-one situation with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saw the keeper effect a good save.
Even in the first half with everyone available, India never really posed a threat to the rival goal. Jamil chose to start with two men upfront – Chhetri, Farukh Choudhary – but without creativity in midfield, chances were in short supply.
Then, with time running out, Jamil was forced into attacking changes: Udanta Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad and Rahim were all thrown into the mix, and India were ‘rewarded’ with a lucky goal to bring home a point.
Reduced to ten men early in the second half after Sandesh Jhingan was sent off just after resumption, Khalid Jamil’s side was a minute away from a second consecutive loss, and almost out of contention. Singapore, however, blundered in the final minute of regulation time as Rahim Ali’s first international goal helped secure a 1-1 result in Singapore on Thursday.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
Singapore are still on top of the group with five points, three more than India’s two, but they will have a chance to make amends in the home clash next week. Hong Kong (four) and Bangladesh (one) have a game in hand.
Only the group winners qualify for the Saudi Arabia edition.
“I think it’s going to be difficult, we are just taking one game at a time,” Sunil Chhetri, who returned to the team after being left out for last month’s CAFA Nations Cup, said after the draw. “Going ten men and getting a result wasn’t easy. Just glad to be taking a point away.”
Given the circumstances, India will be delighted with a point. When Ikhsan Fandi scored in first half stoppage time for Singapore and Jhingan was sent off for a second yellow, India were left with their backs against the wall. Chances were limited, and the hosts were in the ascendancy, only to blunder right at the end. Without a shot on goal till then and ineffective upfront, India could have only scored from a defensive lapse.
India were thrown a lifeline in the 90th minute when Jordan Emaviwe casually played a ball back to goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud. Rahim pressed and the keeper’s clearance struck the feet of the India striker, who was left with an open goal to score his first international goal.
For most part, Singapore were the better team, enjoying 63 % ball possession and plenty of looks at the India goal. The hosts had several chances, only to miss, twice from handshaking distance. Ilhan Fandi had two good chances in quick succession.
At first, he shot wide, after being put under pressure by a sliding Rahul Bheke, while another attempt from a one-on-one situation with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saw the keeper effect a good save.
Even in the first half with everyone available, India never really posed a threat to the rival goal. Jamil chose to start with two men upfront – Chhetri, Farukh Choudhary – but without creativity in midfield, chances were in short supply.
Then, with time running out, Jamil was forced into attacking changes: Udanta Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad and Rahim were all thrown into the mix, and India were ‘rewarded’ with a lucky goal to bring home a point.
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