Rahul Giri in Shillong
As the referee blew the whistle to kick off the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers match between India and Bangladesh, it marked the first-ever official competitive international fixture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. The atmosphere was electric, with a near-capacity crowd of 14,952, and almost half of them donning blue jerseys in support of the hosts. A vibrant local traditional performance set the stage for a special moment.
The teams lined up for their national anthems and Amar Shonar Bangla and Jana Gana Mana were played. Rabindranath Tagore’s oeuvre offered the connection. Once the game commenced, the intensity was palpable. Neither side was willing to concede an inch, and the battle began in earnest.
India nearly lost control in the very first minute when goalkeeper Vishal Kaith’s misjudged clearance from a corner landed directly at the feet of Bangladesh’s Mojibur Jony on the edge of the box. Fortunately for India, Mojibur’s shot slammed into the side netting, allowing Kaith to breathe a sigh of relief.
Vishal’s nervy performance continued in the 12th minute when another poor clearance from a Hamza Choudhury corner ricocheted off an opponent. Bangladesh’s MD Ridoy pounced on the opportunity, but Rahul Bheke came to India’s rescue with a crucial block.
Bangladesh, with Sheffield United’s (on loan from Leicester City) Hamza dictating play from midfield, adopted an aggressive high-press strategy, making it difficult for India to build from the back. The visitors held their ground, frustrating the Indian attack.
India did carve out a couple of half-chances, but they lacked the final touch. However, the 28th minute saw a clear opportunity when Farukh Choudhary delivered a pinpoint cross from the right, finding Liston Colaco on the far side of the box. Liston struck it on the volley, but his shot went straight into the hands of the Bangladesh goalkeeper.
India’s attacking approach showed signs of improvement, especially after Bangladesh’s captain and versatile defender Topu Barman was forced off the field with an injury. Despite the slight momentum shift, both teams went into the break goalless.
India resumed the second half with a similar approach, with captain Sunil Chhetri taking on more responsibility by dropping deeper into midfield to influence the game. His movement created space for Farukh, but the finishing touch continued to evade the hosts.
The home crowd’s frustration grew as chants of “we want a goal, we want a goal” echoed through the stands. Even head coach Manolo Marquez responded by introducing Suresh Singh Wangjam and Mahesh Singh Naorem in place of Ayush Dev Chhetri and Udanta Singh, hoping to inject fresh energy into the side.
The substitutions brought renewed urgency. In the 70th minute, Chhetri set up Farukh just outside the box, but his shot was deflected wide by a Bangladesh defender. From the resulting corner, Liston found Sandesh Jhingan at the near post, but the defender’s header missed the target.
India relentlessly pushed forward in search of a late winner, but it wasn’t to be. In the dying moments, Bangladesh nearly stole the show when Mohammed Fahim unleashed a thunderous long-range effort from the left flank. Vishal redeemed his earlier mistakes with a brilliant diving save, preserving the draw for the hosts.
India will now face Hong Kong in the second round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. A win will be crucial to reignite their qualifying campaign.
Reflecting on the result, a disappointed Marquez remarked: “Today was a really bad day for us. We’re lucky to come away with a draw. The only positive is that we managed to get one point.”