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Malaysia edged ahead in the game thanks to an 18th-minute strike by Paulo Josue following a calamitous mix-up in the Indian defensive setup. But the Blue Tigers clawed their way back into the game riding on a Rahul Bheke header in the 39th minute of…Read More
Indian Men’s Football Team. (X)
The Indian national football team played out a 1-1 draw with Malaysia at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday in the year’s final assignment for the Blue Tigers as head coach Manolo Marquez’s wait for a first win at the helm of the Indian side continues.
Malaysia edged ahead in the game thanks to an 18th-minute strike by Paulo Josue following a calamitous mix-up in the Indian defensive setup. But the Blue Tigers clawed their way back into the game riding on a Rahul Bheke header in the 39th minute of the game.
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Indian head coach Manolo Marquez opted to begin skipper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in goal behind the defensive quartet of Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, and Suresh Singh. Brandon Fernandes, Roshan Singh, and Apuia Ralte wee in midfield while debutant Irfan Yadwad, Lallianzuala Chhangte and Farukh Choudhary started in attack for the hosts.
The Malaysian head coach fielded Syihan Hazmi in between the sticks while Daniel Ting, Dominic Tan, Azam Bin Azmi and Haqimi Azim wee in defence. The midfield comprised Stuart Wilkin, Nooa Laine and Akhyar Rashid with Paulo Josue, Dion Cools, and Sergio Fabian Aguero starting as forwards.
The game was off to a brisk start with both teams looking to draw first blood, but it was the visitors who struck first as Gurpreet rushed way out of his line to clear a long ball in, only to miss it completely leaving Josue with the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net to give the travelling side the lead.
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However, the Indians found a way back into the game as Bheke sent a bulge into the back of the net with his header from a corner to put the game back in the balance, after repeated attempts by the hosts to cancel out their earlier mistake.
Indian captain Gurpreet came up big in the final knocking of the game as he kept a ferocious left-footed volley from inside the are from crossing the line as he thwarted the ball with a diving save to give his side a deserved draw at Hyderabad.
