Preview: India, despite missing their talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri, will fancy their chances when they take on hosts Jordan in an international football friendly on Saturday. The match at the Jordan capital is in preparation for the AFC Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in January-February next year. India are ranked 97th while Jordan are placed 112th in the FIFA rankings. Even though they will be without Chhetri, the country’s all-time leading scorer, Stephen Constantine’s men will take confidence from their goalless stalemate in their previous friendly against higher-ranked China, managed by World Cup-wining coach Marcello Lippi. Chhetri’s absence has been dubbed a “big blow” by coach Constantine, under whom India enjoyed a dream 14-match unbeaten run till it was broken by Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek. With only about two months to go for the Asian Cup, the upcoming friendly provides Constantine are the last opportunities to analyse his squad and ready his backup plans. Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will lead the backline which will have Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Narayan Das and probably Subhasish Bose. India’s defence impressed against Lippi’s China but Constantine will be banking on his midfield and attack to have an influence in the match against a Jordan side whose form has been patchy. Jordan, who are ranked 15 spots below India in the rankings, last won a match in May when they defeated Cyprus 3-0. In their last four games, they have had two draws and two defeats, capping with a 1-2 loss to Croatia in October. For India, mid-fielder Jackichand Singh and left back Nishu Kumar were on Thursday included in the 22-member squad for the away international FIFA fixture. The likes of Udanta Singh, Pronay Halder, Halicharan Narzary and Anirudh Thapa are likely to control possession in the midfield against a Jordan side that will look to hit on the counter in the absence of a few attacking players. In the absence of Chhetri, experienced men like Jeje Lalpekhlua and Balwant Singh will need to take up the mantle up front. While the former has struggled in front of goal, the latter’s form is encouraging. Ahead of the match Constantine said, “We want to do well in the AFC Asian Cup and the clash against Jordan will aid us. Jordan are a good side and they have a number of good players in their ranks.
India vs Jordan, Match Highlights: Hosts score twice to beat Stephen Constantine's team 1-2 in friendly
Catch Live score and updates from the friendly match between India and Jordan
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Not the best result for India, but given the circumstances under which the team reached Amman, Stephen Constantine will feel his team has done a decent job. Not all first choice players were playing today, including the inspirational Sunil Chhetri, who missed the game due to an injury. The captain and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a fantastic penalty save early on in the game, but then committed a mistake which led to Jordan’s first goal. Haddad scored the second goal for the hosts, later Nishu Kumar pulled one back for India.
That’s all we have for now. Hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage of the match. Goodbye!
This was a great chance for Pronay Haldar in the dying minutes of the game
Full-time! INDIA 1-2 JORDAN
Jordan take the match after goals from goalkeeper Shafi and Haddad. For India, Nishu Kumar found the back of the net.
93’ INDIA 1-2 JORDAN
One final corner for India. But nothing comes out of it.
89’ INDIA 1-2 JORDAN
Great chance for India from a corner, but Pronoy Haldar fails to get proper contact.
85’ INDIA 1-2 JORDAN
Five minutes plus extra time left in the match. Indians are showing intent and urgency to score the second goal.
82’ INDIA 1-2 JORDAN
Two changes for India. Anirudh Thapa and Germanpreet Singh come off the pitch. They are replaced by Sumit Passi and Narayan Das.
76’ INDIA 1-2 JORDAN
Jordan not letting Indians to take control of the game. They are dominating the possession, looking to score the third goal and put the match to bed.
70’ INDIA 1-2 JORDAN
After a brief period where Jordan lost their concentration and gave away a goal, there are finding their feet again.
Here’s how Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saved the penalty
60’ INDIA 1-2 JORDAN
GOAAAL! India pull one back! Nishu Kumar is unmarked in the box and he makes no mistake in converting the chance.
58’ INDIA 0-2 JORDAN
GOAL! Superb counter-attack from Jordan and Haddad comes up with a quality finish to score the second goal.
57’ INDIA 0-1 JORDAN
Free-kick for India. Anirudh does well, but nothing threatening for Jordan.
52’ INDIA 0-1 JORDAN
Much better start to the second-half from India. Possession-wise, they have decent. Not so great start by Jordan.
48’ INDIA 0-1 JORDAN
Jordan on the attack and shot from distance by Al-Ersan, but turns out to be routine save for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
45’ INDIA 0-1 JORDAN
The second-half is underway at the King Abdullah Stadium in Amman. One change for India. Ashique Kuruniyan replaces Jerry Lalrinzuala.
Half-time! INDIA 0-1 JORDAN
Jordan captain and goalkeeper Shafi’s goal separates both sides. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saves a penalty early on, but couldn’t stop Jordan from taking a lead in the match.
44’ INDIA 0-1 JORDAN
Another golden chance for Jordan but Faisal fails to make proper connect.
41’ INDIA 0-1 JORDAN
Could’ve been a second goal for Jordan, but Subhasish Bose clears the ball on the line.
38’ INDIA 0-1 JORDAN
For all the possession of Jordan, they are not going hard against Indians. Way too much time spent on passes without any urgency for the second goal. Happy with just one goal? Surely not.
34’ INDIA 0-1 JORDAN
Maybe the wind helped the ball to move away and bounce awkwardly in front of Gurpreet, but his positioning should have been better. Must be a dampener for the Indian goalkeeper after he superbly saved a penalty.
Jordan still dominating the game.
27’ INDIA 0-1 JORDAN
GOAL! A direct goal from Jordan’s goalkeeper Shafi. A terrible mistake from Indian counterpart Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
22’ INDIA 0-0 JORDAN
First corner for India. Anirudh Thapa takes it, and a good chance for Vinit Rai, but he fails to control the ball.
Meanwhile, a yellow card for Pronoy Haldar for a rash challenge.
16’ INDIA 0-0 JORDAN
Jordan are keeping the ball, but the final pass is missing. They need to settle down. Meanwhile India are doing decent job when it comes to defending. Their game plan is simple: sit back and hope for Jordan to make a mistake and then go forward with coutner-attack.
10’ INDIA 0-0 JORDAN
The penalty was given for a handball from Subhasish Bose. From the replays, it looks like a very harsh call. Jordan wasted a golden opportunity to put India under pressure.
9’ INDIA 0-0 JORDAN
Penalty for Jordan. And WHAT A SAVE from Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to deny Jordan from taking a lead in the match.
3’ INDIA 0-0 JORDAN
As expected, Jordan are enjoying the maximum possession in early period of the game.
1’ INDIA 0-0 JORDAN
The national anthems of both the teams are done and we have a kick-off at the King Abdullah Stadium in Amman.
It’s almost time!
No legend today!
Here’s the starting line-up of the Indian team.
Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of the friendly football match between India and Jordan at the King Abdullah Stadium in Amman.
After much confusion regarding the state of match because of floods in Jordan, the game finally is taking place.
The full India squad could only assemble in the late hours of Friday after as many as seven players and a few officials were stuck in Kuwait City airport after their flight to Amman was diverted because of heavy rainfall.
There were reports coming out yesterday that the match has been cancelled, but on Saturday, the officials decided to go ahead as per the original schedule.