SAFF Championship: India held to 1-1 draw by 10-man Bangladesh in opener

India allowed a 10-man Bangladesh to return again and rating a shock objective after talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri’s 76th worldwide strike to play out a 1-1 draw of their SAFF Championships opener right here on Monday.
The 37-year-old Chhetri, enjoying in his 121st match for India, struck within the twenty seventh minute to put himself only a objective shy of legendary Brazillian Pele (77 objectives from 92 matches).
He is now within the fourth spot within the record of highest scorers amongst lively footballers, behind Cristiano Ronaldo (111), Lionel Messi (79) and Iraq’s Ali Mabkhout (77).
India had been the higher aspect within the first half and although they misplaced possession very often, they appeared to be cruising. They additionally had numerical benefit from 54th minute onwards after Bangladesh participant Biswanath Ghosh was despatched off for committing a foul on Liston Colaco.
But Igor Stimac’s males didn’t cease the swift counter-attacking Bangladeshis on their tracks and conceded a objective within the 74th minute to share factors, a lot to the dismay of the Indian camp.
Bangladesh have all the time been a troublesome opponent for India who had wanted a late equaliser to attract the primary leg of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Kolkata earlier than successful 2-0 within the second leg.
India had been within the attacking mode proper from the beginning however a swift counter-attack from Bangladesh nearly caught them napping and central defender Chinglensana Singh made an important clearance after Ibrahim whipped in a low cross from the left for Motin Mia.
Bangladesh additionally bought a number of corners however India had been in ascendency after that with Udanta Singh, who returned after lacking two Nepal friendlies, managing to outwit his marker and offering crosses from the flank.
Manvir Singh had a feeble head-in from one such cross within the twenty fourth minute however Chhetri was not the one to overlook the opposite one three minutes later. Pritam Kotal launched Udanta on the suitable flank who in the reduction of the ball from close to the byline and a perfectly-placed Chhetri smashed it into the roof of the web.
Liston Colaco, who had a formidable outing, had a go on the Bangladesh objective within the thirty sixth minute with none success. Three minutes later, Chhetri had one other highly effective left-footed strike however goalkeeper Anisur Rahman pulled off a diving save.
India survived a scare within the fortieth minute, this time additionally from a swift counter-attack from the Bangladeshis. But, goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a diving save towards Biplo Ahmed’s shot to maintain India’s lead intact.
Stimac changed Anirudh Thapa by bringing Brandon Fernandes in the midst of the park on resumption and India additionally bought a numerical benefit after Biswanath Ghosh was despatched off within the 54th minute for bringing down Colaco with solely the goalkeeper in entrance.
Three minutes earlier than that, nevertheless, Bangladesh had an opportunity to equalise however Rakib Hossain shot broad after discovering himself free contained in the Indian field.
Bangladesh goalkeeper Rahman made a double save within the 61st minute as he blocked photographs from Manvir and Udanta.
Stimac substituted Colaco with Lalengmawia and Udanta with Rahim Ali simply after the hour mark. But the Bangladeshis, enjoying underneath a brand new coach after the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, pulled one again within the 74th minute regardless of numerical inferiority.
Yasir Arafat despatched a diving header from a swinging nook kick into the Indian objective.
India play Sri Lanka of their second round-robin league match on Thursday.