Bahrain strike late winner against India

This time the heartbreak came two minutes earlier.

India’s last clash against

Bahrain

was at the 2019 Asian Cup when they conceded a penalty in the last minute and lost out on a place in the knockout stage of the continental championship.

This time, India, severely depleted, looked to have done enough to secure a draw, only to concede in the 88th minute and lose the international friendly 1-2 at the Sheikh Ali bin Mohammed Stadium on Wednesday.

With five players injured, seven stranded at home due to visa glitches and four not ready to start the game after being involved in the Indian Super League (ISL) final on Sunday, India coach

Igor Stimac

was left with only 14 players, including two goalkeepers, to choose his starting 11.

The Croatian chose to hand international debuts to VP Suhair and Danish Farooq, and while all four at the back were experienced defenders, the team appeared imbalanced, particularly in the middle where Pronay Halder was the only recognised central midfielder.

Bahrain were the better side, much superior infact, when the match kicked off and India looked all at sea. The hosts created several openings and won a penalty in the sixth minute, but goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was on hand to save the spotkick from Mahdi Humaidan.

Sandhu, handed the armband in the absence of Sunil Chhetri, could do nothing in the 37th minute when an unmarked Mohamed Hardan volleyed home from close range.

Given the chances they had and the ease with which they nudged aside their opponents, it was a surprise that Bahrain took so long to take the lead.

India offered little resistance and had no attempt on goal.

The only time the visitors got a whiff of it was in the 17th minute when Rahim Ali did well to cross inside the box where Manvir Singh’s close-range header was wide of the mark.

India looked comparatively better in the second half when Stimac introduced Roshan Singh, another debutant, and Anirudh Thapa to shore up the midfield.

Roshan had seven assists on his debut in the ISL and the Bengaluru FC defender took little time to open his goal contribution account in international football. Playing a quick corner-kick to Pritam Kotal and receiving the ball back, he whipped in a well-measured cross which was headed inside the goal by Rahul Bheke.

With more than half an hour left to be played, it was always going to be a herculean task to contain Bahrain. The hosts attacked in numbers and were finally rewarded in the 88th minute when Humaidan – who went close twice – gently directed home a cross from the right, much to the delight and relief of the hosts.

India play Belarus in another friendly on Saturday.


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