 "Supreme Court clears path for ISL 2025-26, appoints Justice Rao to oversee AIFF tender")
 "Man United insider reveals why club did not sign a midfielder in summer transfer window")
Preview: The India men’s football team’s preparations for the AFC Asian Cup 2024 tournament gets underway on Friday, beginning with the Intercontinental Cup in Bhubaneswar. India take on Mongolia in their opening clash of the Intercontinental Cup on Friday at the Kalinga Stadium. Lebanon and Vanuatu are the other teams participating in the friendly tournament. Stimac had initially named a 41-man squad for a preparatory camp ahead of the Intercontinental Cup, but shortened that to 26 following a few fitness tests for the players. Sunil Chhetri will lead the side, that also consists the likes of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Rahul Bheke among others. India were winners in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2018, and head coach Igor Stimac said his team’s focus was on improving the defence. “We are looking to strengthen each position in the team. Full-backs positions are widely open and we need more physical and mental strength in these positions. Defending is a problem, it is about understanding how to close out these gaps. We are just dancing around the balls and players are easily putting in the crosses,” Stimac said ahead of the match. India will look to take inspiration from their tri-nation tournament triumph in March this year, where they maintained two clean sheets. India clinched victories over Myanmar and Kyrgyz Republic to clinch the trophy. Coming back to the Intercontinental Cup, India’s clash against Mongolia will be followed by matches against Vanuatu and Lebanon on 13 June and 16 June respectively. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
India vs Mongolia Highlights, Intercontinental Cup 2023: India beat Mongolia 2-0 to begin on a winning note
India vs Mongolia, Highlights: Full time! India begin their Intercontinental Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Mongolia. Sahal Abdul Samad and Chhangte were on the scoresheet.
)
India 2-0 Mongolia
Full time! India begin their Intercontinental Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Mongolia. Sahal Abdul Samad and Chhangte were on the scoresheet. While Mongolia were more consistent from stopping India in the second half, the visitors were ubnable to score a single goal.
India 2-0 Mongolia
Five minutes have been added in injury time. Not long to go if Mongolia are to collect a consolation goal of sorts.
India 2-0 Mongolia
Just under 10 minutes to go in regulation time, and it’s been almost India all the way Chhangte with a good cross to Thapa, who is unable to collect the ball however.
India 2-0 Mongolia
Over an hour gone in the contest, and the score remains 2-0. Mahesh goes for a low cross within the box, from the left side. However, hre fails to find a teammate from the cross.
India 2-0 Mongolia
Chhangte looks to make room, and eventually finds Chhetri. He looks to pass the ball to Chhetri, but it’s intercepted by one of the Mongolian players.
India 2-0 Mongolia
India win a corner, with Anirudh Thapa taking it. However, his attempt is denied by the Mongolian defenders, who clear away the b all towards safety.
India 2-0 Mongolia
The second half is underway in Bhubaneswar, with Mongolia searching for that first goal, that would cut India’s lead by a goal. But, can the visitors find that elusive goal?
India 2-0 Mongolia
Half time! India with a comfortable two-goal lead after goals from Sahal and Chhangte, and the Blue Tigers would hope to continue their good show in the second half. Mongolia, meanwhile, have the task cut out.
India 2-0 Mongolia
Mongolia’s Dulguun brings down Udanta Singh inside the penalty box, and there are calls for a penalty by the Indian players. However, the referee says it’s not a penalty, and tells to play on.
India 2-0 Mongolia
GOAAL! India double their lead against Mongolia, after Chhangte finds the net. India win a corner and Jhinghan looks to head the ball past the keeper from the centre, but his shot is blocked. Mongolia however, fail to clear the ball away and Chhangte is quick to respond by netting the goal.
India 1-0 Mongolia
GOAAL! Early advantage for India as Sahal Abdul Samad opens the scoring. Anirudh Thapa with a good low cross from the right, the Mongolia keeper fails to get hold of the ball and it rebounds to Sahal, who finds the net.
India vs Mongolia LIVE
Both India and Mongolia are done with their respective national anthems. Players of both teams pose with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ahead of the match.
Here’s India’s starting XI against Mongolia