Bahrain hit the upright!
71’ India concede a corner, Bahrain take it quickly and after some pinball Marhoon gets his head to it. It bounces off the post.
India Lose to Bahrain, Crash Out of AFC Asian Cup; Constantine Resigns - Highlights
Coach Stephen Constantine resigned after Indian football team lost 0-1 to Bahrain to crash out of the AFC Asian Cup in Sharjah on January 14. Get highlights and analysis of the India vs Bahrain match
Sandesh Jhingan of Indian football team blocks a Bahrain striker during their AFC Asian Cup match in Sharjah. Get highlights and analysis of the India vs Bahrain match below (Pic: Twitter, AFC).
The dream went crashing down at stoppage time the Indian football team. In the 91st minute of play, India conceded a penalty which was converted by Bahrain's Jamal Rashid to seal the match 1-0 in Sharjah on January 14. The result saw India crash out of the tournament with UAE, Thailand and Bahrain going through into the knockouts from Group A. (Get highlights and analysis of the India vs Bahrain AFC Asian Cup match below) || Full time analysis video by Ishfaq Ahmed
Meanwhile Stephen Constantine resigned as coach of the national team soon after the match.
“I have been here for four years," he said. "My objective from day one was to qualify for the Asian Cup and we have done that.
Also Read | Stephen Constantine’s Exit Can Be a Blessing for India’s Footballing Future
"I am exceptionally proud of the players for everything that they have given," he added. "I thank the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Kushal Das, Praful Patel and Abhishek Yadav for the support that they have given me. I think my cycle is finished. I did what I was asked. It is time for me to move on.”
The Indians started off with a setback, losing Anas Edathodika to a hamstring injury in the second minute of the match. But they settled down soon enough and managed to thwart off Bahrain's forays. They went into the break with the scores tied 0-0. | Half time analysis video by Ishfaq Ahmed
Video | India vs Bahrain preview with Gurpreet and Jhingan
In the other Group A match Thailand held UAE to a 1-1 draw to seal their progress in the tournament.
(Besides the usual crew, we also had ex-international and coach Ishfaq Ahmed adding his expertise to our feed below.)
Live blog
Bahrain go wide
72’ Bahrain come close again! A quick release and Yusuf Helal is free with only Jhingan blocking him. The angle is against him, and Jhingan does a good enough job, to throw him off. He hits it wide. But the pressure is relentless. Can’t help but think that this is going to cost India.
Indirect Free kick
73’ Indirect freekick inside the box. How often do you get to see that? Pretty bad call from the ref, adjudging that a back pass.
Gurpreet again
74’ That is some outstanding penalty corner style defending. Everyon charges without abandon and somehow Gurpreet blocks the shot. Corner to Bahrain. Nothing comes off it.
India not at all possessive
75’ Breathe breathe breathe. This is madness. India have had almost no possession this half. India re turning over the ball, but are doing nothing with it. Passes are being misplaced, and the touches are too heavy.
What's Constantine thinking?
79’ In the other game UAE come close. India sub: Thapa on Narzary off. Hopefully some control to close out the game. You can see Constantine’s thinking here. But, it may have been better to pull Rowllin out. He is losing his legs.
Pronay on song
Pronay’s reading of the game has been right on the money today. Superb work from the India captain screening the defence and coming up with interception after interception. Not quite N’golo Kante, but pretty damn good.
Bahrain wide again
80’ Bahrain drift in from the left, but shoot wide.
Countdown song
81’
Indian coach sulks
82’ A superb Bahrain cross from the right is punched away by Gurpreet. Constantine is sulking on the touchline. India are dropping deeper and deeper. Only Mourinho teams can drop so deep and eke out a result. Are we a Jose team? Are we? Is he watching this?
Questionable Indian team composition
Ishfaq: Not sure about the team composition here. If you don’t want to make changes in the middle why have so many central players on the bench? I feel like players such as Chhangte and Farukh could have made a real impact today.
Bahrain's nth corner
84’ Bahrain have their 97th corner of the game. Or so it seems.
Gurpreet's long hands
85’ Superb delivery, Bahrain’s Rashed Abdulrahman gets a brilliant header, but you know what!!! Gurpreet makes an outstanding save. And off the rebound, Kotal heads clear.
Corner saved again
86’ Another corner, another header, another save. Living on the edge here. Really.
Unreal save by Gurpreet
87’ That Gurpreet save cannot be real. It cannot. Abdulrahman’s header was into the far corner, and Gurpreet instinctively stuck a hand out, from point blank range almost. Gordon Banks who?
Indians look tired
87’ India are looking leggy now. Chhetri is playing around his own box now. Defending, hassling, pressing. It’s all here now. These tanks are on empty.
Last ditch save
88’ Super ball from Bahrain, but Gurpreet charges ahead and punches clear. He was just about in time for that ball there.
Ricochet football
89’ Pinball from the Bahrain corner. Punted away.
Penalty!!!
90’ Penalty to Bahrain. Halder brings down Alshamsan. Bahrain have a golden chance.
Halder mistake
90’ + 1’ That penalty was actually a direct result of a mess up by Gurpreet who spilled what was a routine cross. A muffed clearance off the line, and before you knew it, Halder had to do what he did. Well, he didn’t have to.
Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
