For a large part of the evening at the National Stadium in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, Singapore looked set to inflict another miserable night on Indian football.
Down to ten men, disjointed in midfield, and trailing for most of the game, the Blue Tigers were staring at their second straight defeat in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. But a 90th-minute blunder from the hosts and Rahim Ali’s sharp instincts salvaged a 1-1 draw that keeps India barely alive in Group C.
It was not a night of redemption, but rather one of survival. India have now played three matches in this final qualifying round lost one, drawn two, scored just once.
Their only goal so far came via a defensive lapse by Singapore. The draw, while vital on paper, does little to change the reality: India must win all their remaining matches to have even an outside shot at qualification. Anything less than three victories against Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh would likely mean elimination.
A Stuttering Campaign and Fading Control
The night began with some early promise. India pressed high in the opening quarter, trying to disrupt Singapore’s rhythm. Liston Colaco’s 15th-minute free-kick created the first real chance, but Rahul Bheke’s glancing header drifted wide. That, however, was as close as India came in the first half.
Once Singapore settled into their passing structure, the hosts took complete control. Captain Hariss Harun dictated play from midfield, and their front three constantly stretched India’s defensive shape.
With 63% possession and greater composure, Singapore pushed India deeper into their own half, and Khalid Jamil’s side looked increasingly reactive rather than proactive.
The breakthrough came right before the halftime whistle. A precise long ball from Harun found Shawal Anuar on the right flank, who brushed aside Uvais and squared it across goal for Ikhsan Fandi. The striker made no mistake, slotting past Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to make it 1-0.
Jhingan’s Red Card and Tactical Collapse
If the first half was frustrating, the second began disastrously. Just two minutes after the restart, Sandesh Jhingan received his second yellow card for a raised-arm block on Fandi. The veteran defender’s dismissal left India with ten men and a mountain to climb.
From that moment, Jamil’s men were pinned back. Their transitions broke down, the midfield offered no outlet, and Singapore’s pace out wide repeatedly exposed India’s flanks. Gurpreet, however, stood tall denying Fandi again in the 73rd minute with a brave one-on-one save that kept India’s faint hopes alive.
It was clear that India lacked coherence and urgency. Passes went astray, counters fizzled out, and Sunil Chhetri isolated and frustrated rarely saw the ball in dangerous positions. The game looked done and dusted as Singapore began running down the clock.
Rahim Ali’s Moment of Fortune
Then, football’s unpredictability offered India a lifeline. In the 90th minute, a seemingly harmless back-pass from Singapore’s Jordan Emaviwe turned disastrous. His under-hit ball caught goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud off-guard. Rahim Ali, alert and opportunistic, pounced on the loose ball and coolly slotted into the empty net.
It was India’s first goal of the qualifiers coming not from creativity or combination play, but from sheer persistence and opportunism. The equaliser spared the Blue Tigers from embarrassment and gave them a crucial point heading into the reverse fixture in Goa on October 14.
The draw leaves India third in Group C with just two points from three matches. Hong Kong remain the frontrunners, while Bangladesh’s clash with Hong Kong later tonight could further complicate the table.
For India, the math is brutal. They must win all three of their remaining fixtures at home against Singapore and Hong Kong, and away to Bangladesh to keep their fate in their own hands. Anything less, and their qualification hopes will hinge on other results.
But beyond numbers lies a deeper concern India’s lack of cohesion and confidence. This campaign has exposed the cracks left behind by years of tactical inconsistency.
The once-vaunted defensive solidity has crumbled, the midfield lacks imagination, and the frontline has looked blunt. Three matches, one goal, and long stretches of reactive football the statistics tell their own story.
Captain Sunil Chhetri, visibly drained after the match, offered a sobering assessment.
“It’s going to be difficult from here to qualify, but we will take one game at a time,” he said. “Coming to Singapore, going down to ten men, and turning around the result wasn’t easy.”
Chhetri’s words summed up the evening relief at avoiding defeat, but awareness of how far India still are from competing confidently on the Asian stage.
When India return home to face Singapore next week, the stakes could not be higher. Anything less than three points will all but end their qualification hopes. Victory alone will not suffice they need performances that inspire belief, not just survival.
The trip to Dhaka later this year looms large as well. The Bangladeshi capital is an intimidating venue, and India have historically struggled there. Failing to beat Bangladesh at home or away could prove catastrophic.
As things stand, Hong Kong remain favourites to progress, while India will be hoping for a few favours from other results. Yet, qualification is still mathematically possible only if they win all three remaining games.
For now, India have escaped humiliation in Singapore, but the real test begins at home. Three matches remain, three must-wins. It’s 3 in a row or nothing.
Anything less, and this could be India’s most disappointing Asian Cup campaign in recent memory not because of who they lost to, but because of how little they showed.
