-Rahul Giri
Bangladesh edged past India 1–0 in their AFC Asian Cup Qualifier at a packed Bangladesh National Stadium in Dhaka – their first win over India in more than two decades with the last coming in the 2003 SAFF Championship semi-final at the same venue.
The hosts’ resurgence in recent years, sparked by the arrival of Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury, followed by the introduction of talents like Shamit Shome and Zayaan Ahmed, has significantly boosted domestic interest. Matchday turnouts have surged, jersey sales have risen, and brands have shown renewed enthusiasm. Yet, results had not followed – with just one win in their last seven games, that too against Bhutan in a friendly – until tonight.
This victory, therefore, promises to further ignite Bangladesh’s footballing revival.
Rakib–Morsalin Combination Punishes India Early
India began the game with aggression, and only ten minutes in, earned a throw-in deep near Bangladesh’s box, a familiar Khalid Jamil routine involving the centre-backs pushing forward to attack the second ball.
But this time the tactic backfired. The long throw was cleared by a Bangladesh defender, and the loose ball fell to Rakib Hossain, who burst past Akash Mishra with sheer pace before squaring a low pass to Shekh Morsalin. Unmarked, the young forward calmly slotted the ball through Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s legs as the capacity crowd erupted.
Bangladesh Absorb Pressure; Hamza Leads from the Back
In the 27th minute, defender Tariq Kazi was forced off due to injury and replaced by Sakil Topu, and Bangladesh briefly struggled to reorganize. India pressed high, forcing an error that left goalkeeper Mitul Marma off his line — only for Hamza Choudhury to heroically block Lallianzuala Chhangte’s goal-bound attempt.
Hamza, deployed in a deeper, primarily defensive role, nearly made it 2–0 just before halftime. Saad Uddin’s free-kick was headed clear by Sandesh Jhingan, but the ball fell to Hamza on the edge of the box. He controlled it on his chest and unleashed a left-foot volley that whistled inches wide of the post.
India Lack Sharpness; Bangladesh Hold Firm
India started the second half with intent but lacked creativeness in the final third. Their build-up play was slow, and the attacks lacked bite.
On the hour mark, Jamil introduced Brison Fernandes and Mohammed Sanan for Chhangte and Vikram Partap Singh, and the move immediately added energy. Sanan had an early attempt from distance and delivered an accurate cross soon after, but India failed to capitalise.
Sanan came closest again in the 74th minute when his strike from the right side forced Mitul Marma into a reflex save from a rebound. Despite a few late penetrations, India never truly threatened an equaliser, and Bangladesh held on for a historic win.
Where Did India Falter?
India’s defeat cannot be attributed to a single moment. Several factors contributed:
Inactivity Due to ISL Delay
The AIFF’s failure to begin the ISL season on time has left Indian players lacking match rhythm. Apart from the brief Super Cup window, most players have been without competitive football for months.
As Mohun Bagan head coach Jose Molina recently said: “Fitness during an ongoing league is very different from pre-season levels, no matter how hard you train.”
Ryan Williams’ Late Clearance
Newly naturalised forward Ryan Williams received his NOC from Football Australia on the morning of the match. The late clearance meant India couldn’t register him in time, delaying his much-awaited debut.
Club vs Country Tensions
The long-standing friction between Mohun Bagan and the national team also played a part. Mohun Bagan declined to release players for the preparatory camp outside the FIFA window. As a result, Jamil proceeded without several key names, and the impact was evident. India clearly missed Apuia, Sahal Abdul Samad, and Manvir Singh, especially in midfield control and attacking transitions.
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