E-Paper
AFC Asian Cup 2019, India vs Thailand, Highlights: As It Happened
As It Happened: India have completed a convincing 4-1 win over Thailand. Sunil Chhetri scored a brace while Anirudh Thapa and Jeje Lalpheklua scored also got on the scoresheet for India. India will next face UAE in the tournament followed by Bahrain.Follow India-Thailand highlights below -
20:56 hrs IST
Historic win for India
This is India’s biggest win in their Asian Cup history and their first win in the tournament after 55 years. Fantastic start to the tournament for India and if they manage to get draws in the next two matches, they will qualify for the knockouts.
20:51 hrs IST
Full-time
That’s it folks, the referee has blown the final whistle and India have completed a convincing 4-1 win over Thailand. Sunil Chhetri scored a brace while Anirudh Thapa and Jeje Lalpheklua also got on the scoresheet for India.
20:45 hrs IST
Gurpreet steady at the back
Goalkeeper Gurpreet hasn’t been troubled much in the second half but in the last few minutes, Thai attackers are having a go at him from distance. But the Indian custodian has kept simple and held whatever has been thrown at him.
20:39 hrs IST
Jeje joins the party now (80’)
Jeje had just come on the pitch and he finds space on the edge of the box. The attacker simply pokes at the ball and it sails over the keeper into the back of the net. India now lead 4-1 and are sailing towards huge win now.
20:35 hrs IST
Substitutions for India (78’)
Jeje Lalpheklua comes in for Ashique Kuruniyan and Rowllin Borges replaces Anirudh Thapa, who scored India’s third goal of the day. Coach Constantine looks to continue India’s progress up front as he replaces an attacker with an attacker.
20:27 hrs IST
Anirudh strikes to extend India’s lead (68’)
Anirudh Thapa has scored his first goal for the national team as he lobs the ball from the edge of the box past hapless Thai players and keeper. Udanta did the hard work to get inside the box but could not get his shot away and pased the ball to Anirudh who came up with the calmest of finishes to extend India’s lead to 3-1
20:21 hrs IST
Error from Thai keeper
Udanta once again sent the ball into the box from the right flank but there was hardly any pace in the ball for it to reach Sunil Chhetri, who was relatively free inside the box. The keeper stopped the ball but spilled it and Chhetri was quick to go towards it. But the Thai defender cleared it before the Indian striker could hit the ball.
20:15 hrs IST
India dominate proceedings
Since going 1-2 down, Thailand players have looked very ordinary as India have taken full control of the match. Their players are moving the ball along nicely and Thai players are left chasing the ball. Sunil Chhetri is pulling all the string for India at the moment from the front of the park.
20:07 hrs IST
Golazo from Chhetri (47’)
India’s talisman has hit once more and they take the lead for the second time in the match. Udanta passed from the right hand side of the field and when the ball reached the edge of the box, Chhetri came running from the midfield and finished emphatically to give India the lead. Second goal of the match for the Indian superstar.
India lead 2-1 and it's that man again! 😍@chetrisunil11 with a belter of a finish.#BackTheBlue #AsianDream #BlueTigers #IndianFootball #THAIND
📸: AFC Media pic.twitter.com/LdLY2hVD01
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 6, 2019
20:02 hrs IST
Second half begins
The players are back on the ground and we are about to get underway in the second half. Thailand will kick-off this time after India started proceedings in the first half.
19:50 hrs IST
Half-time
The first 45 minutes have ended and the teams head into the dressing rooms level at 1-1. Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring for India from the penalty spot. But shortly after India’s goal, Thailand equalised through Teerasil Dangda. Expecting more of the same in the second half now.
19:42 hrs IST
Chance for Chhetri
Ashique dropped the ball in front of Chhetri just on the edge of the box and the India number 11 got into position early and hit the ball hard. But it wasn’t a good strike from the India talisman as the ball ballooned over the goal with just four minutes to go in the half.
19:35 hrs IST
Thailand equalises (33’)
Thailand have hit back straightaway as they they equalised through Teerasil Dangda. The ball from floated in through a free-kick and Dangda found space in between two defenders and headed the ball past keeper Gurpreet. The match is level at 1-1 now.
19:29 hrs IST
Chhetri strikes for India (27’)
India won a penalty after the ball hit a Thai defender’s hand inside the box. Sunil Chhetri took the chance with great aplomb as he blasted the ball on the left bottom corner and send the keeper the other way. India lead 1-0!
Cometh the hour, cometh the man @chetrisunil11!! #BackTheBlue #AsianDream #BlueTigers #IndianFootball #THAIND pic.twitter.com/O4GkSpSPbO
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 6, 2019
19:24 hrs IST
Anas almost scored an own goal
A dangerous ball was floated in from the left and the ball richochet off Anas’ leg and went inches past the left post of Gurpreet’s goal. Then, two minutes later, Teerasil was sent on his way via a through ball but Anas cleared the ball with a good tackle. Thailand on the front foot.
19:20 hrs IST
Thailand winning midfield battle
20 minutes have passed and India haven’t been able to string a few passess in the middle of the park. Thailand are dominating proceedings and they are moving the ball along nicely. But so far, the Indian defenders have done well.
19:14 hrs IST
Good strike from Thailand number 8
Thai players are grown in confidence with every passing minute and this time, Thitipan shoots from long range and the ball just missed the right hand side of the post. Excellent strike from 25 yards from the Thai star.
19:08 hrs IST
Indian players start well
India have made a good start to the match and they have dominated the opening exchanges against their Thai counterparts. While there haven’t been a clear goal scoring chance for either of the two teams so far, India are playing a bit better at the moment.
19:00 hrs IST
Kick-off
The officials are set, players are set and the fans are set and we are underway. Indian have started the proceedings from the kick-off. Let’s see who dominates things in the early parts of the match.
18:55 hrs IST
Match about to begin
The players are now standing in the tunnel and the match will begin in sometime now. First, the national anthems of both the teams will be played and then we will get underway with the match. India are dressed in all-whites for this clash where as Thailand players are dressed up in dark blue jerseys.
18:45 hrs IST
Gurpreet to lead India
Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has been named the skipper by coach Stephen Constantine. Sunil Chhetri will not be leading India in this clash. Here is the playing XI of the two teams -
🇹🇭 vs 🇮🇳
Come on boys👊🏻#BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #AsianDream #BlueTigers #THAIND pic.twitter.com/NDb00Tj7jL
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 6, 2019
18:40 hrs IST
India’s last Asian Cup journey
This is the fourth time that India are participating in the Asian Cup. The last time India played in Asia’s biggest tournament was back in 2011 where they lost all the group matches to crash out.
18:30 hrs IST
Tournament format
The two top sides from each of the six groups made up of four countries as well as four third-place teams will advance to the Round of 16. India are placed alongside Thailand, UAE and Bahrain in Group A.
18:20 hrs IST
Road to the tournament
India are entering the tournament on the back of a goal-less stalemates against World Cup-winning Italian coach Marcello Lippi’s China and Oman in the lead-up to the tournament. They lost narrowly (1-2) to Jordan in their third big match ahead of the Asian Cup. These results were preceded by a 13-match unbeaten run in international friendly matches and the Intercontinental Cup at home last summer.
18:10 hrs IST
Hello and welcome
A very warm welcome to the live blog of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 match between India and Thailand. A positive result will boost the Stephen Constantine-coached team’s chances of making it to the Round of 16. If India beat Thailand, then a draw in the remaining two matches -- against hosts UAE (January 10) and Bahrain (January 14) -- could be enough for them to qualify for the knock-out round.
