India played out a feisty, scrappy 0 - 0 draw with Bangladesh as both teams started their final 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a point each.
It started in chaotic manner, with India keeper Vishal Kaith passing a regulation pass straight to Bangladesh's winger, Mojibor Jony inside the opening minute, but he couldn't make the most of the chance. That was a theme for the Bangladesh performance as errors in defence and Rakib Hossain ripping apart Sandesh Jhingan every time he had a run at him saw them get chances through the game. Poor finishing, though, let them down.
At the other end, India created chances sporadically. Liston Colaco, their best player on the night, was a menace with his direct dribbling and set piece delivery. It was off a Liston corner that one of India's two clear-cut chances came: a near post delivery headed wide by Subhasish Bose at the near post. The other came when substitute Mahesh Singh swung in a delightful ball into a free Sunil Chhetri -- but the returning legend could merely head it weakly wide.
Bangladesh's pre-match preparation was dominated by news of Hamza Choudhury debuting for them, but played as a deep lying playmaker he had little impact on the game outside a couple of good challenges in midfield, and a good block off a powerful Chhetri header.
The draw, coming after the 0-0 draw between Singapore and Hong Kong sees all four teams in Group C on a point each after their first matches.
Manolo Marquez was fuming in his post-match interview, saying, "I don't want to talk too much, because I am very angry, disappointed with the performance of everyone. [This included himself]. I don't have words to explain this poor, poor performance from everyone."
He leant into the theme, his anger palpable on camera: "This is not enough. Maybe this is the reality of Indian football." When asked what was the one positive he could take from the game, he said, "the positive is that we didn't concede a single goal with the chances they created."
Meanwhile, his opposite number cut a much happier figure. "If we are able to draw here, we are able to beat anyone else in this group," he said as he spoke about the urgent need for his team to finish the chances they created.
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