Highlights - Bangladesh Hold India 1-1 in FIFA World Cup Qualifier

45’ We’ve kicked off. India go from right to left now.

50’ Already much better from India. There’s more energy, and they are quicker on the ball. Not ponderous as before.

51’ Not that it matters because Bangladesh have had the chance of chances, to make it 2-0. Nabib Ziban released into a one on one, and Gurpreet redeems himself. Kind of. That was a good save. But that is going on at the back?!!! This team didn’t concede against the Asian champions!!! But, But….

55’ Bangladesh hit the crossbar!! A cross whipped in from the left by Mohamed Ibrahim is actually whipped towards goal. Gurpreet was beaten and if it was half an inch lower, that may have been a highlight goal.

57’ India make a substitution. Brandon Fernandes comes on. Mandar goes off. And first up he has a freekick, 25 yards out. Slightly to the right of goal. Chhetri will contest him for it and Chhetri takes it. Takes a deflection and goes out for a corner. Brandon takes it and Bangladesh launch a counter. Ashique on the defensive clears.

59’ Stimac looks furious!!! Finally!!! He has emotions!!! India have a corner.

60’ Thapa delivers an out swinger, Anas rises highest and heads it into the top right corner, but Biplo clears it off the line. That would’ve been a superb comeback!!! Another corner. Nothing off it. 

The good news is that Bangladesh are panicking and getting a little overwhelmed. India must capitalise.

63’ India are still punting those long balls into nowhere, which just makes them look like a team out of ideas. More patience lads. Pass it around, run into spaces…

65’ It is ridiculous where Chhetri is coming to collect the ball! He takes a pass from Anas at the top of India’s box!!! And then passes to Sahal who draws a foul near the halfway line. Jamal Bhuyan gets a yellow for his troubles.

67’ Bhuyan had promised his team will shock India, and two thirds of the game down they are. Chhetri releases Udanta down the right with a superb pass and Udanta whips a ball in. its behind Manvir though. Bangladesh panicked, but it was fairly safe.

The last time India beat Bangladesh was in 1999. The last time Bangladesh beat India was in 2009. This is 2019. Raynier replaces Thapa. Stimac rolling the dice here. Or maybe it's like the Great Indian Football Roadmap-much ado about nothing.

71’ Chettri collects a long ball, then he swerves and weaves and turns and crosses, only for the ball to be cleared. The keeper had come off his line when Chhetri brought it under control, and he could’ve had a shot at goal. He didn’t. Sigh.

72’ Sahal has a shot from distance. It is low, it is well directed and it is heading to the bottom corner, but is saved by Ashraful. That's his first meaningful save of the match. The long throw monster is replaced by Bishwanath Ghosh.

73’ Bangladesh again!!! Almost have a second!!! Adil Khan clears off the line!! A long ball finds Ziban and he lobs Gurpreet. Grupret’s fingers get the ball but it would’ve gone into goal if not for a brilliant bicycle clearance off the line by Adil Khan. Ridiculous!

76’ After some pinging around, India win a corner. It is played to the near post by Brandon, Chhetri gets to it, but it goes wide. He flicked it on to the far post perhaps, or perhaps he was looking to score. Either way, no cigar.

India make a final sub. Chhangte comes on, Anas goes off. So now, India have 950 midfielders on the pitch. And just the one real central defender. Scratch that. Adil is known as a defensive midfielder.

79’ Sahal takes a heavy fall near the half line. He’s up though. His ego bruised more than back.

82’ After a lot of pinging and crossing into the box, the ball falls to Brandon who takes a shot from 30 yards. It was always rising. No need for that Brandon. Just turn it over. Recycle possession. Don’t waste it. To prosper we need to create a circular economy.

83’ One of the Bangladesh coaching staff gets a yellow card. He is revealed to be the goalkeeping coach.

84’ Bangladesh start a counter once Raynier is wrestled off the ball near the half line. A hopeful cross is punted in and Bheke makes a mess of it. Ziban gets to it, but Bheke recovers and directs it to Ziban’s arm. Phew!!!