AFC Asian Cup 2019 Match Highlights, India vs Bahrain Football Match: India eliminated by late Jamal Rashed penalty
Follow all the latest updates as the Indian football team take on Bahrain in their final group stage match at the AFC Asian Cup 2019
 "AFC Asian Cup 2019 Match Highlights, India vs Bahrain Football Match: India eliminated by late Jamal Rashed penalty")
That’s it from us!
Stephen Constantine’s shocking announcement has put several changes into effect, which will be covered extensively over the course of the next few days on our website.
Thanks for tuning in and following India’s incredible exploits from this edition of the AFC Asian Cup on our live blog!
The campaign has ended in heartbreak, but we’ll be right here whenever India return to action, chronicling their rise through the ranks of international football.
Stephen Constantine steps down as the Indian football team coach
The Englishman, who has been instrumental in India’s improvement over the past few years, says his cycle is over, adding that he has left the players in a much better place than they were when he arrived.
FT: India 0-1 Bahrain
India bow out of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 after finishing fourth in Group A after Thailand held UAE to a draw. India’s campaign showed plenty of promise, but in the end the quality wasn’t enough
GOAL! Bahrain score from the spot. India heading home
Hamed Alshamsan baits captain Pronay Halder into a rash challenge inside the penalty area, and the Indian hacks him down. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is wrong-footed by Jamal Rashed, who buries it in the net. India need to come up with something quick
Sandhesh Jhingan has been massive in this game, and he’s earning himself some high-profile fans!
These @IndianFootball need to be given so much credit for their strong mentality in this game. Special mention to @SandeshJhingan - hats off to you🙌 I am a fan
— Aditi Chauhan GK 🇮🇳 (@aditi03chauhan) January 14, 2019
A bizarre decision from the referee ends in nothing
The referee awards an indirect free-kick to Bahrain as Gurpreet Singh Sandhu picks up a deflected ball that comes off the foot of Subashish. The strange decision is dealt with quite adeptly by the Indian defenders, who in spite of their numerous talents, are not exactly the tallest lot.
Bahrain come within inches of taking the lead!
Mohamed Marhoon gets a header onto the upright after the ball pings around the Indian penalty area, ricocheting off the heads of players like pinball. Bahrain quickly win the ball back and get right back to attacking.
India survive a dangerous spell of Bahraini possession
Jamal Rashed gets a shot on target from a free kick, which Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saves. India counterattack rapidly, and get a free-kick on the edge of the area, which Sunil Chhetri blasts into the upper tiers of the stadium. India are caught out on the resulting counter, where Udanta Singh puts in a bruising tackle on a Bahraini forward inside the penalty area, which is adjudged to be fair.
It’s goalless at half-time
India doing just enough at the interval but Bahrain have been the better team and have looked more threatening. India have offered little going forward. India are playing a dangerous game especially with Thailand drawing with UAE.
Fine margins in Group A. A goal either way could vastly impact the table. A goal for India would send them top, while a goal for Bahrain would push India to fourth place. Nervy second half coming up
GOAL in Al Ain! Thailand equalise. As things stand, India have to get a point from this game to have a chance of progressing to the next round.
What a shambolic piece of defending from UAE! Thitipan Puangchan scores the equaliser after a bizarre bit of defending, when the defenders and the keeper failed to clear the ball!
LIVE Group A standings
1. UAE 5 points
2. India 4 points
3. Thailand 4 points
4. Bahrain 2 points
India ahead of Thailand on better head-to-head record
Indian football fans have flocked to the stadium in droves to support their team!
🗣️ @IndianFootball 🇮🇳 fans bringing their A-game to Sharjah Stadium!
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 14, 2019
#AsianCup2019 pic.twitter.com/23A72erMjG
Bahrain have a lot of the ball, but they don’t quite look like they know what to do with it
The West Asian side have been passing the ball around quite deftly in their own half, but on their ventures into India’s final third, they have resorted to launching crosses into the penalty area, where Mohamed Al Romaihi has been expertly marshalled by Sandesh Jhingan
India grow into the match
Much better from India in the last few minutes. Lot more composure on the ball. Bahrain’s attacks have dried up a bit.
What a save from UAE’s Khalid Eisa Bilal!
Thailand’s Adisak Kraisorn gets lucky as a bobbling ball finds him in the box, his left-footed shot, is saved well! The Thai team is growing into this game, which is not the best news for India, who have failed to come up with any clear-cut chances so far
It’s still early going but here’s how the table will look if the scores remain the same
Still early in the day, but should scores in both Group A games stay the way they are at the moment, this is how the standings will look like:#AsianCup2019 #UAEvTHA #INDBHR
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 14, 2019
LIVE: https://t.co/wOb4BAgW4t pic.twitter.com/DUuRrJ4UVh
India are on the back foot, with Bahrain looking to nick an early goal
India have been second best in the opening exchanges so far. Bahrain finding a lot of space to play. India’s intensity not the same as previous games, not winning the second balls. Bahrain have looked threatening while going forward
Meanwhile, Ali Ahmed Mabkhout heads UAE ahead in the seventh minute of the other Group A match!
GOAL in Al Ain! UAE take the lead against Thailand. That’s good news for India as a Thailand defeat guarantees them a top three finish.
LIVE Group A standings
1. UAE 7 points
2. India 4 points
3. Thailand 3 points
4. Bahrain 2 points
Bahrain are taking the game to India!
India struggling to play out from the back. Pronay Halder caught on the ball Bahrain almost profit. India missing Anirudh already? Indian players look like deer caught in headlights every time the ball enters the final third
What a blow for Stephen Contantine’s side!
Anas Edathodika is struggling with an injury and appears to signal for a substitution! We’re only two minutes into the first half and India have already used up a substitute. Salam Ranjan comes on in his place
With the eyes of the country firmly affixed on the Indian football team’s exploits, coach Stephen Constantine believes cricket has finally taken a back seat
India stunned Thailand 4-1 in their opening match last weekend to record their first victory at the tournament in over 50 years and despite losing 2-0 to hosts United Arab Emirates, Stephen Constantine insists football has knocked cricket of its perch — at least for a little bit.
The current incarnation of the Indian football team is considered to be one of the fittest Indian sides ever
The aspect of India’s game that has appealed to everyone irrespective of the result has been their speed, energy and stamina that has seen them run tirelessly on the pitch, eventually causing big problems for the opponents. Read more about the changes that have occurred over the past few years here .
The #BlueTigers 🐯 are in the house!#INDBAH #AsianDream #IndianFootball #BackTheBlue
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 14, 2019
📸: AFC Media pic.twitter.com/FKQHHCeXRE
A win for India will assure their progression into the knockout rounds, but it may not be their only route there
India will qualify for the Round of 16 with a win over Bahrain in Sharjah and will be assured of a top-two finish in Group A. A victory could also propel the Blue Tigers to the top spot if UAE draw or lose to Thailand in the other game in Al Ain.
Click here to read more about the various permutations and combinations that could see India get into the next stage!
India’s form has changed significantly since the the last time they met Bahrain in the Asian Cup
‘Eight years ago, India played Bahrain in the 2011 Asian Cup and lost 5-2. However, the Blue Tigers would believe that those days of struggling against the Asian big boys are well behind them.’ Click here to read more of Kaushal Shukla’s preview of the crucial match-up.
The line-ups are out!
Here's how India line-up against Bahrain at the #AFCAsianCup:
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 14, 2019
#1 - G. Singh Sandhu
#20 - P. Kotal
#5 - S. Jhingan
#22 - A. Edathodika
#3 - S. Bose
#15 - U. Singh
#17 - R. Borges
#14 - P. Halder
#19 - H. Narzary
#13 - A. Kuruniyan
#11 - S. Chhetri
LIVE: https://t.co/wOb4BAywW1 pic.twitter.com/u1e7tlYx39
We are all set for the big encounter 🇮🇳🐯🔥#BlueTigers #BackTheBlue #AsianDream #IndianFootball #INDBAH
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 14, 2019
📷: AFC Media pic.twitter.com/VjDG5p3UNI
Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s LIVE coverage of India’s AFC Asian Cup group stage match against Bahrain!
The island nation of Bahrain stands between the Blue Tigers and a historic spot in the Asian Cup knockout stages. Follow all the latest updates from the match as well as news from the other Group A fixture between the hosts UAE and Thailand on our live blog!
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