Bangladesh vs India: The match between Bangladesh and India in Dhaka was not very encouraging for Indian football as they lost 0-1, exposing some on-field issues and more systemic problems. Following their elimination from the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, the latest defeat secured them bottom place in the group and confirmed the negative trend that has afflicted Indian football since the last few months.
Early Blow: Bangladesh strike in the 11th minute
The game started in disastrous fashion for India. A slick Bangladesh counterattack opened up India’s rear-guard in the 11th minute of play. Rakib Hossein flew down the sideline past Akash Mishra, shrugged off another defender, and threaded an inch-perfect pass into the box. As goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu hesitated, 19-year-old Sheikh Morsalin slipped through unmarked and lifted a cool finish into the net.
The crowd erupted-arguably this goal marked Bangladesh’s first win over India in 22 years, making even the Bangladesh vs. India clash historic.
India Struggle to Settle as Bangladesh Control the Midfield
India looked uninspired throughout the first half as their conservative midfield setup allowed Bangladesh to retain structure without much pressure. Hamza Choudhury dominated the centre of the pitch blocking a Chhangte shot off the goal line at one point and attempting an ambitious volley at another.
Better in the second half but still lacking the final product.
After the break, India finally showed more urgency. The lifters of Mahesh Singh, and Mohammed Sanan in his first run out for the national team, brought pace, positivity, and directness into their play. Sanan stood out in particular, as he was involved in nearly every forward move.
India came close several times:
Mahesh curled a shot inches wide.
Rahul Bheke powered a header just past the post.
Sanan forced goalkeeper Mitul Marma into an excellent save.
Despite the increased intensity, India did not score. When the final whistle went off, Bangladesh celebrated the long-awaited triumph while India were left digesting a painful reality of only two points from five games with their third defeat in this qualifying round.
A Year of Decline: The Bangladesh vs India result reflects a larger crisis.
This loss is consistent with a disturbing pattern that dates back months to the defeat against Singapore in October when India squandered a 1-0 advantage and essentially knocked them out of the qualification race. The result of the Bangladesh vs India match now feels emblematic of structural problems.
Away from the pitch, uncertainty abounds for Indian football. The Indian Super League, the country’s leading club competition is still on hold, with not a clear idea of what to build toward long term. And that uncertainty has filtered down into the national team, which appears to lack identity, game plan, or even a direction. A collapsing foundation off the field is becoming more and more visible on the field.
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