FIFA Worldwide Pleasant: India holds Malaysia 1-1; coach Marquez’s seek for first win continues

Gamers in motion throughout the FIFA Worldwide Pleasant match between India and Malaysia at GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday, November 18, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: Nagara Gopal

Indian erased a aim deficit to carry Malaysia 1-1 within the FIFA Worldwide Pleasant match on the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday (November 18, 2024). Malaysia went forward within the nineteenth minute via Paulo Josue earlier than Rahul Bheke nodded dwelling the equalizer from a nook within the thirty ninth minute.

India suffered initially within the first half owing to a Gurpreet Singh Sandhu howler that put the host on the again foot early. It was unlikely of the nation’s first-choice goalkeeper to make the amateurish mistake as he charged out of the field making an attempt to succeed in a protracted ball however fully misjudged the flight to see the ball bouncing forward of him and reaching the Malaysian ahead Paulo Josue, who obtained the present properly and positioned it into an open web.

Trying to assert itself because the host, India stored a excessive line however didn’t make efficient penetrations within the Malaysia field. Head coach Manolo Marquez benched his regulars like Manvir Singh or Liston Colaco and most well-liked to attempt the brand new mixture of Farukh Chaudhary and Irfan Yadwad, who made his nationwide workforce debut, within the assault. The 2 confirmed sufficient vitality upfront however failed to search out the fitting contact that will convert the Indian assaults into objectives. The seek for a top quality striker who might exchange Sunil Chhetri within the Indian assault thus continued for Marquez.

India discovered the equalizer via a set-piece state of affairs minutes earlier than the break minute when Rahul Bheke, shifting up from his place as the fitting again, nodded dwelling a properly swerved nook from Brandon Fernandez. This got here as an enormous reduction for the host, which stored struggling to search out the fitting openings from open play. The return of seasoned centre-back Sandesh Jhingan from a protracted harm layoff gave stability to the Indian efficiency, which confirmed a number of enchancment in comparison with its earlier three outings. India survived some late onslaughts from Malaysia and was fortunate to not concede a late aim because the Malaysian substitute noticed his injury-time header coming off the upright. Marquez exhausted his quota of substitutes within the final 20 minutes of motion, however that got here to no avail as India continued to stay winless within the yr.

Outcome

India 1 (Rahul Bheke 39) drew with Malaysia 1 (Paulo Josue 19).