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AFC Asian Cup 2019, India vs Bahrain highlights: Chhetri & Co lose 0-1 to crash out
As it happened: India played valiantly to keep Bahrain at bay for almost the entirety of the match, but they conceded a penalty in the stoppage time. Jamal Rashed shot straight through the centre to put India out and take Bahrain through to the round of 16. Here’s how the India-Bahrain clash unfolded:
23:25 hrs IST
Heartbreak for India; India 0 - Bahrain 1
The late goal India conceded means the UAE and Thailand are through as automatic qualifiers from Group A, while Bahrain have confirmed their place as one of the four best third-placed teams.
India are heading out in the most heartbreaking manner.
23:19 hrs IST
India concede late goal; India 0 - Bahrain 1
Jamal Rashed went straight through the middle to put Bahrain ahead. And now they are going through. As things stand, India are heading out.
23:18 hrs IST
India concede penalty
Will Gurpreet come to rescue?
23:05 hrs IST
India make final change; 0-0
Anirudh Thapa comes on for Narzary. Last 10 minutes underway in Sharjah.
23:02 hrs IST
India hold on! 0-0
Pronay, Gurpreet and Jhingan came rushing out to avert the danger. The match is still scoreless.
23:00 hrs IST
Danger for India; 0-0
Bahrain have an indirect free-kick for a back pass!
22:58 hrs IST
India can’t keep the ball
It’s all Bahrain for now. India are struggling to keep the ball as Bahrain keep attacking the Indian goal. The Blue Tigers need to way to keep possession.
22:53 hrs IST
Set-piece for India; 0-0
Udanta Singh wins a free-kick for India in a danger area with a good run but Sunil Chhetri fails to find target. He then makes a defensive tackle in the Indian penalty area to keep the Blue Tigers in the game.
25 minutes to go!
65' - After @UdantaK is fouled close to the Bahrain penalty area, @chetrisunil11 takes the resulting free-kick and sees his shot whizz past the target.
🇮🇳 0-0 🇧🇭#INDBAH #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #AsianDream #BlueTigers
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 14, 2019
22:50 hrs IST
Meanwhile, Jhingan continues to shine
60' - As we approach the hour mark, @Sandesh does excellently to slide in and defend a cross from the right. Brilliant stuff!
🇮🇳 0-0 🇧🇭#INDBAH #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #AsianDream #BlueTigers pic.twitter.com/xNw3VIjZSo
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 14, 2019
22:48 hrs IST
Sayed Isa tries from long range
The Bahrain midfielder got a good shot away but he failed to trouble Gurpreet as the ball sailed over.
22:45 hrs IST
Pronay concedes free-kick from danger area
But he reads the pass well to stave off danger.
22:40 hrs IST
India continue to keep Bahrain out
52' - The Indians are under some early pressure after the restart but the defence holds on well to absorb it. @Subhasishbose17 comes up with a fine interception on the left flank to deny the Bahrain forwards
🇮🇳 0-0 🇧🇭#INDBAH #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #AsianDream #BlueTigers
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 14, 2019
22:35 hrs IST
Ali Madan shoots from distance
Second half has started the same way as the first. Ali Madan takes a shot from distance but fails to find target. Before that a poor flicked from India header set Bahrain through but the Blue Tigers defended well to avert the danger.
22:30 hrs IST
Second half underway
Udanta Singh shows strength on the ball but fails to find target with his back pass.
22:25 hrs IST
Scores favour India
Hosts UAE and Thailand are locked at 1-1 in the other Group A game. As things stand, India are qualifying for the round of 16.
India have done well to stay in the game after an early injury forced Anas off. It will interesting to see if there is a change of approach or personnel from Stephen Constantine in the second half.
⏱ HALF-TIME:
It's goalless at the break in Sharjah.
🇮🇳 India 0-0 Bahrain 🇧🇭#AsianCup2019 pic.twitter.com/WZusGXSJKJ
— #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) January 14, 2019
22:20 hrs IST
Half-time! 0-0
Pranoy Haldar and Sandesh Jhingan have been the standout players for India, managing to keep Bahrain away on several occasions. Halicharan Narzary’s deflected shot was the closest India came to scoring a goal, but the two teams will still be looking for an opener in the second half.
22:15 hrs IST
Two minutes of stoppage time
First 45 minutes are up but the match remains scoreless. Two more minutes in this half for the teams to find a goal.
22:13 hrs IST
No dearth of support for India in Sharjah
🗣️ @IndianFootball 🇮🇳 fans bringing their A-game to Sharjah Stadium!
#AsianCup2019 pic.twitter.com/23A72erMjG
— #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) January 14, 2019
22:10 hrs IST
Pranoy Haldar to the rescue; 0-0
39' - As Bahrain look to escape on the break, captain Pronay Halder tracks back and comes up with a crunching slide tackle to steal the ball for India.
🇮🇳 0-0 🇧🇭#INDBAH #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #AsianDream #BlueTigers
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 14, 2019
22:05 hrs IST
Cagey affair but no breakthrough; 0-0
Both teams have struggled to get into any sort of rhythm. Some strong tackles but the referee has allowed the game to flow.
22:00 hrs IST
No clear sight of goal
Both teams have struggled to create any clear-cut chances and have been reduced to shots from distance. Jhingan has been fantastic in keeping inviting crosses and passes from their intended target.
33' - Ahmed Juma finds space down the left flank and has time to cross. However, in the way is @SandeshJhingan yet again, as he slides to get the ball away.
🇮🇳 0-0 🇧🇭#INDBAH #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #AsianDream #BlueTigers
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 14, 2019
21: 55 hrs IST
India go close; 0-0
22' - Halicharan looks to fire in a low cross from the left, which hits the defender and goes into the side netting for a corner. However, the set-piece yields no shot on target.
🇮🇳 0-0 🇧🇭#INDBAH #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #AsianDream #BlueTigers
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 14, 2019
21:50 hrs IST
Sandesh Jhigan down
Sandesh Jhingan goes down but not before he cleanly intercepted an inviting ball. India are growing into the game after an early siege from Bahrain.
21:45 hrs IST
India get close! 0-0
India came close to finding an opener but Ashique Kuruniyan couldn’t hit the target on Pritam Kotal’s enticing cross from the right.
21:40 hrs IST
Bahrain lay siege on India’s goal; 0-0
Bahrain have been dominant. Two close off-side calls against the Bahraini as India struggle to get out off their own half.
21.35 hrs IST
Bahrain dominate; 0-0
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was forced into a sharp save off a deflected shot. He is then forced into a mistake but the score remains scoreless. Early pressure from Bahrain.
21:30 hrs IST
Kick-off!
And we are underway... India are chasing history while Bahrain look to secure their passage to the round of 16 in the 2019 Asian Cup.
21:20 hrs IST
India’s problems at the back
Constantine fielded the same starting eleven in both against Thailand and UAE in a 4-4-2 formation and it will have to be seen whether he does the same against Bahrain. The central defender duo of Sandesh Jhingan and Anas Edathodika largely marshalled the back-line well so far but there were periods of lack of understanding between them which led to the two goals by UAE.
The #BlueTigers 🐯 are in the house!#INDBAH #AsianDream #IndianFootball #BackTheBlue
📸: AFC Media pic.twitter.com/FKQHHCeXRE
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 14, 2019
21:11 hrs IST
Potential strategy for both the teams
India may again deploy a defensive approach and hit on the counter against a physical Bahrain as they need just a draw while it is a must-win for the West Asian side as they are with just one point from two matches after their 0-1 loss to Thailand. The Thais defended deep in the first half against Bahrain and hit on the counter and the ‘War Elephants’ were able to get a second half goal. So, it is not beyond India’s reach to get a favourable result against Bahrain.
We are all set for the big encounter 🇮🇳🐯🔥#BlueTigers #BackTheBlue #AsianDream #IndianFootball #INDBAH
📷: AFC Media pic.twitter.com/VjDG5p3UNI
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 14, 2019
21:03 hrs IST
Permutation combination
Even a defeat on may still see India (3 points from 2 matches) through to the knock-out rounds as one of the four third-placed teams if hosts United Arab Emirates (4 from 2 matches) beat Thailand (3 from 2 matches) in Al Ain in the other Group A match. Four third-placed sides from the six groups of four team each will also advance to the knock-out rounds, along with the top two countries. Under the competition rules of the Asian Cup, if two teams end their group stage engagements on equal points, the ranking will be decided first on the basis of head to head result. So, if both Thailand and India lose their matches, India will end at third as they have defeated the ‘War Elephants’ 4-1 in their opening match.
20:50 hrs IST
Line-ups of both the teams
Here are the line-ups of both India and Bahrain
📝 🇮🇳 India 🆚 Bahrain 🇧🇭
Lineups are in for the third and last game of group A for both sides.#AsianCup2019 pic.twitter.com/FgR8cRnHiF
— #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) January 14, 2019
20:43 hrs IST
Milestone for Chhetri
The match will be played at the Sharjah Stadium and may turn out to be the biggest night of Indian football after its achievements during the Golden Years (1951 to 64). It is also significant as talismanic skipper Sunil Chhetri will equal former captain Bhaichung Bhutia’s record of highest appearances for the country at 107 each.
20:30 hrs IST
Hello and welcome
A very warm welcome to the live blog of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 match between India and Bahrain. If Sunil Chhetri and Co win this clash, India will qualify for the next round of the tournament for the first time in their history. But it is not going to be easy and the team knows that.
