India Lose to Bahrain, Crash Out of AFC Asian Cup; Constantine Resigns - Highlights

53’ Jeje wins a smart free kick near the halfway line. Superb close control and some great shielding.

54’ From the freekick, Salam looks for Jeje in the box. The idea is good, the application isn’t. Jeje applauds the former.

54’ India start a counter, and Chhetri finds Udanta on the right. No need for trickery there, but the winger tries some. It goes out of play. Bahrain make a substitution. Ali Jaafar Madan goes off, and Jasim Marhoon comes on. Madan is a danger, and India will be relieved to see the back of him.

56’ Bahrain are controlling most of the ball in midfield, and just like they did in the previous games, India are looking to make merry on the counter from the wings. No luck so far.

57’ In the other game which is in the 53rd minute, Thailand are pressing high and pushing the UAE into troubles waters. No change in score though yet. It’s still locked 1-1.

Jeje has started well since coming on after half time. He is clearly in as a holding player who will be a target for long balls back. The idea, similar to the concept of “downs” in American football, will be to punt it up in the hope that Jeje can use his low centre of gravity and lower body strength to hold off the Bahrainis and win free kicks up the field in the opposition’s half.

58’ India concede a needless freekick down the right, Halder unnecessarily committing a foul. This is in a dangerous position.

59’ Abdulrahman tries to play a smart one and drills it to the top of the box. Halder though makes up for his brain freeze and clears away.

60’ A superb long ball splits India’s defence and Marhoon, free on the right, cuts back first time. Salam Ranjan and Jhingan are scrambling and Alaswad is caught between them. That was close.

61’ Alaswad comes close. Closest. He lets fire from the top of the box. Its high but it had Gurpreet worried. India’s attacking verve has dried up. They are defending deep and are caught in midfield.

62’ Bahrain have a freekick from 30 yards. India have a wall but it looks too far out. Yusuf Helal lines it up and lets fire. He goes in the direction Gurpeet is, and the big man judges it, and takes it easily.

Ishfaq: Bahrain are committing more players in the hope of getting a goal here. Remember, they need to win this game to progress. India need only to draw. With Ashique out we don’t have the same pace on the counter so that option is off the cards. Udanta will also be forced to play deeper to cut off spaces. Will be interesting to see how India get out of their own half.

63’ India are being completely outplayed in the midfield. Constantine has one substitution left and he should consider bringing on one. Oh wait….

64’ India launch a counter straight through the middle and Udanta is running, running running… he is brought down in desperation 30 yards from goal. Freekick! From one end to another.

65’ The Bengaluru boys do a jig, and its teed up for Chhetri, but he blasts it high and wide. Not quite what you want from him.

66’ Udanta Singh is doing some amazing tracking back here. He rushes back and catches a Bahrain counter developing. He clears inside the box. It looks dodgy on first look, but replays show that it was, in fact, a superb tackle. Cafu would be proud.

67’ Pinball in the Indian box. No one seems to want to clear it. But it does go out.

68’ Lalalalala. Everything is level in this group right now. India are going through and so are the UAE. Thailand, in this position leave them with a great chance too. How about that?

69’ Jeje fouls on the left. Bahrain have a freekick and Jamal Rashed floats one in. Gurpreet gathers.

70’ Even on the breakaways India are misplacing passes that should be made.